▷ Fukushuu - Chapter III
A/N: An extended wait – my apologies! But this is the longest chapter yet at least, and there are…somewhat “anticipated” moments near the end, so hopefully those make up for the delay.
Rating: M (In the future)Summary: His gaze curiously pursued every
delicate movement of her dance, his mind ignoring its usual alertness as
to whatever dangerous intentions she might possess. Levi/Mikasa.
Dystopian Mafia AU.
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Chapter III
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“I have read the glowing reviews of your past mission performances, agent Ackerman. Going way back to even your training days.”
The austere room Mikasa sat in felt uncomfortably small as Director Hannes’ voice bounced off the walls before reaching her ears. For the office of such a high-level position it was the humblest of sizes, though she always heard that it was more due to the director’s own modesty rather than any limited resources on Squad 104’s part. There were certain figures within the organization enjoying utter extravagance in their workspaces, and while the rumors of direct bribery from certain politicians being a factor always persisted, nothing was ever substantiated. Hannes himself was never a suspect of such behavior, and his compliment, spoken with the most genuine of tones, supported that notion a bit further.
“Thank you, sir. My superiors and instructors have been too generous.”
“No need to downplay your abilities.” The blonde man leaned forward with clasped hands, his thin mustache shifting with each spoken word. “We like it better here when attitudes are pushed to the extreme. It is a sign of surefire survival.”
Mikasa readjusted her stance, ensuring that her posture was even straighter than before. “Yes, sir. Understood.”
“I am glad to see you can relate to that mentality.” Hannes nodded with an approving glint in his eyes. “Now, as you know, you are now up for a transfer to the most elite sector of Squad 104. However, there has been a single concern circulating amongst the directors…is it true that you have had a personal agenda to fulfill from the day you joined us?”
“That is correct, sir.” She responded with fluidity, already anticipating that question ever since her last round of evaluations. “But please be assured that my goals fall in line with the agency’s overall objective. I will always prioritize the squad’s needs above my own.”
Hannes’ look turned from approval to curiosity. “Would you elaborate upon what you seek to achieve?”
“I would like to personally assassinate the leader of The Legion, Erwin Smith.” There was no hesitation in her voice as she divulged what she had never intended to hide from her superior. “Sir.”
“Well, that is certainly in line with the Squad’s eventual aim…” Hannes gave his fingers a brief twiddle, evidently contemplating how the revelation could be applied in the ongoing conflict. “…might I ask why, agent Ackerman?”
The Sun… She sat up without her usual amount of morning fatigue, surprised by the unprecedented illumination and the vivid blue skies that greeted her sight. How did the sky clear up this much?
At the revelation, she rushed towards the sink and splashed her face thoroughly, wanting to ensure that she was no longer just trapped within another dream. Moments later, as she donned her morning Yukata, Mikasa drank in the bold greens of the leaves peering into her main window, her mind in complete wonder that the world had experienced such a revival overnight. In the midst of her enchantment, she overheard faint noises originating from the courtyard beyond the bushes and trees, ranging from light grunts to the “swoosh” of something cleanly slicing through air.
Adjusting the tie on her robe, Mikasa exited her quarters and investigated the source of the unfamiliar sounds. As soon as her eyes caught the figure moving about upon the cracked cement ground, a long katana in hand, she felt her insides coil with both nervousness and anticipation.
Dressed in a monotonous getup – white shirt and black slacks - shadows danced across Levi’s features as he quickly transitioned from pose to pose, the graceful elegance displayed from his limbs outright contrary to the vehemence behind the sword’s swings. In the unusual brightness his hair was a reflective obsidian, and each piece that fell from his scalp shifted loosely with the varied tilts of his head, forming fragile veils against those scrutinizing eyes. Each movement was clean, executed with utter precision that she had only witnessed from top masters as a child. And though his actions were far from belligerent, even at a distance she could detect the surplus of ferocity lying dormant beneath. With all their encounters thus far, combined with this very moment, Mikasa knew that the rumors had held more truth than anyone realized – Levi’s mystifying exterior was the biggest smokescreen of them all, concealing a precarious nature that would be unleashed at will.
So similar to me. Yet again.
“Enjoying the weather, Mikasa?” His firm voice interrupted her thoughts in its usual manner as he acknowledged her presence, though he never looked straight at her as his body continued to carry out its routine. The way he stretched his back caused patterned wrinkles to appear across his shirt, its fitted form giving a glimpse at the arresting musculature underneath.
Wrestling her line of sight away, Mikasa carefully strode down the two stone steps in front of her, head now raised upward towards the azure expanse instead of in his direction. “I…I don’t even recall the last time I saw the sky like this.”
“The credit goes to Hanji.” He responded while turning to also look skyward, the face of his blade doubling as a temporary shade for his eyes. “It’s the new project she has been leading on her own. No government interference or involvement, though I’m sure those bastards are taking credit for it as we speak.”
Mikasa slowed in her journey into the courtyard, as she was utterly caught off-guard by his answer. Never in any of the files she reviewed were duties beneficial for the masses attributed to The Legion. Felony after felony, they were categorized as ruthless characters in a dangerous faction, and nothing more.
“In fact it is why we are here in town.” Levi continued, his usual tone of confidence only half present as he attempted to elaborate on details he evidently could not comprehend himself. “She is executing the final scientific phase of the experiment around this area, launching random shit into the atmosphere and all.”
“I didn’t realize that your group supported ventures of this purpose and scale.”
“Like I told you before, we thrive on extreme strokes of action.” He tossed his katana into the air skillfully, catching the handle just as the weapon made a few complete twists. “Even if we only get public credit for the things that condemn us, it’s about instilling fear into the sorry excuse we have for a political system - to remind them that they have failed where we will succeed.”
She was barely an arm’s length away from him now, so close that she was tempted to catch the katana herself when it came downward into his hand. When Levi turned and their gazes met at last, Mikasa detected him freezing in place and felt slight apprehension, unsure if he was staring because something about her morning appearance was unkempt. But as gray looked deeper into blue, she saw that he was in a trance of sorts, as if in this splendid light he was seeing her – truly seeing her - for the very first time.
“What is it?” She inserted concern into her question, genuinely wanting him to express his exact thoughts.
Levi broke away, focusing his attention on the gleaming surface of the sword instead. “Nothing.”
Dismay bubbled within her at his non-answer, though she also berated herself for needing to know. Instead of pushing the boundaries further, she denied her personal curiosity and changed the subject.
“This is the first time I have known a foreigner so skilled with a katana.”
An uncustomary grin surfaced onto his harsh features as he progressed onward with his exercise, cutting through the morning air briskly and almost splitting open the tops of adjacent shrubs in the process.
“We train ourselves in all types of weaponry and combat. You never know what kind of enemies you might encounter - crooked politicians can have the most unpredictable guards.”
“Why do you insist on being in the right, Levi?” She bit back at his choice of adjectives as she followed him, careful not to intrude upon the region that would be vulnerable to his upcoming swings. “You might find the same tea repulsive, but like those you call ‘crooked,’ you are still drinking it in the end.”
At her remembrance of their previous conversation, Levi halted mid-attack to glance back. This time there was another look in his eyes – one that contained both the recognition of his weakness from the night before and the will of not submitting to it again. Without another word he retraced his previous path, pupils dark with mysterious intent. Eventually, his figure began to circle her like a hunter, the sharp edge of the blade grazing the hem of her robe while his free hand remained in his pocket.
“Have you ever been wronged, Mikasa?” He questioned impassively. “Assaulted by one of your previous customers, perhaps?”
She gulped as the painful memories of her parents flooded back without warning. “Perhaps.”
“Wouldn’t you…” He stopped behind her, positioning himself right in the blindspot where she could not determine his next actions. “…have an unstoppable desire to retaliate if the right tools were placed in your hands?”
He’s testing me a final time.
“I am just a dancer.” She clenched her fists, preparing to retaliate if necessary. “Not a killer.”
Gradually, his arms lifted around her still frame, reaching for her right hand before inserting the katana handle into her palm. With his chest against her back and biceps wrapped around her torso, his fingers beckoned for hers to close around the weapon. When she hesitated, he began to meticulously complete the task for her, one digit at a time.
“Don’t lie to yourself, Mikasa.” The fabric of his cravat and his breath tickled against the back of her ear. “When I pinned you down that night, all your adrenaline desired is to snatch away that blade and slice through my flesh instead.”
Mikasa shuddered from the feeling of him around her, almost immobilized by the magnitude of his presence. And though a part of her wanted to savor this moment, she responded the only way she could to quell all his remaining suspicions.
“I am not like you, Levi.”
Levi’s arms immediately released her at the phrase, as if he had been scorched by the burning tone. She still gripped the katana on her own accord, but she was careful to feign unfamiliarity with the weapon. As she dangled the sword as awkwardly as possible and looked back to analyze his reaction, she saw that he was gazing upward once more.
“In this godforsaken world, Mikasa, we all contract bloodlust eventually.”
With those words, the sunlight that previously shone so brilliantly began to dim. When she looked up for the reason, she saw that gray hues had returned to cruelly mask the skies. The dullness once again echoed her own eyes and the lifeless eyes of all her previous victims, each meeting death in a format of her choosing, and every gaping bullet wound or severed artery burning permanent scars upon her own psyche. She wanted desperately to declare to the man next to her that they were in fact more similar than he could imagine, that she wanted to preserve this rare connection between them. Yet as she watched the canopy of monotony that brought a tragic end to whatever temporary solution Hanji had conjured up, Mikasa knew that what they had was the most ill-fated connection of all.
“Looks like her plan worked. For a while, anyway.”
The new mundane voice took Mikasa by complete surprise, especially as she had not realized how much she had lowered her guard. When she glanced at Levi, however, she realized that she was not alone – he appeared just as startled as she was when he saw Erwin Smith standing just meters away from them, arms folded and dressed in dark, semi-formal attire. As usual his was a foreboding presence, and one that poisoned her spirit with every second of his survival.
Though she kept her facial expression as unaffected as possible, there was no mistaking the temptation for her limbs to leap into action while she possessed a precious weapon in her hand.
I am literally this close to my goal.
Armin’s orders to wait resonated within her ears.
And yet…
“Good morning to you, Miss Mikasa. Levi.” Erwin bowed in his disconcertingly gentlemanlike manner. “Sorry to have disturbed you.”
She could only bow in return, lips pursed in a tight line.
“Erwin.” Levi swung by her just as she returned to her upright stance. “We need to meet.”
There was a strange urgency in his voice that Mikasa had not anticipated, and in that brief moment of confusion, she inadvertently permitted his agile hands to retrieve the katana with no effort.
The taller man nodded once. “This evening, then.”
“Fine.” Levi rushed past his superior and retreated from the courtyard in large, quick steps, vanishing like the passing wind. It was not until the sounds of his footsteps faded that Mikasa realized how he had not bid any farewell to her. And just as she was contemplating that circumstance, Erwin gave her his.
“Miss Mikasa, I shall take my leave.”
Her body was torn, wedged between the craving to relax in liquid warmth and the need to become dynamic after such a long period of immobility. She was not accustomed to the former, as both her routine training and her usual missions required far more physical prowess. Seeing Levi brandishing his sword so freely had splintered her resolve, and if she was trapped within this masquerade for much longer, Mikasa knew she would start to become distressed.
“Fuck it.” Officially breaking character, she splashed the surface and stood upright. Her hands hastily pitched her towel aside before she dove into her wardrobe, searching for the one attire that brought her familiarity and comfort.
Moments later, Mikasa’s vague shadow meandered across the dimly-lit grounds, agile feet advancing her figure from location to location in expert silence as she made her way towards Erwin’s room. Her entire figure blended into the night, with her covert black jumpsuit, dark red headscarf that also concealed the majority of her face, and lightweight boots all deeming her nearly imperceptible. She was now more than acquainted with the nooks and crannies of the teahouse layout, being careful to avoid any light sources and occasionally making gestures towards where she knew cameras were hidden, just because she enjoyed the thought of someone on the Squad’s side watching her with sweatier-than-usual palms.
As she approached her destination, she limberly grasped the wooden ceiling beam above and elevated herself, bending into a position where she knew she would not be detected as easily from even within the corridor itself. Centimeter by centimeter she shifted the final distance towards the entrance, and once close enough, she extended her neck towards the papered top section of the doorway – also the least soundproof area.
“…yes, have them positioned here during the meeting.” Her ear caught the end of one of Erwin’s hushed sentences.
“Already done.” Came Levi’s answer spoken in his brassy timbre.
“So we are finished, then.”
Mikasa cursed inside. I may have missed what I came for. But to her immediate relief, Erwin’s next statement revived some hope.
“Unless you have anything else to add, Levi?”
“Not really.”
“Are you certain?” Mikasa could almost visualize Erwin’s eyebrows rising as he questioned his subordinate. “I thought you had wanted to discuss the young lady in your arms this morning.”
Despite the account being spoken by her most-hated enemy, she still flushed with both shame and uneasiness as she imagined what the earlier scene must’ve looked like to any bystander.
Faint shuffling sounds emerged, no doubt a sign of Levi’s own agitation. “You saw…?”
“Of course I did.” The blond man gave a rather teasing response before infusing weight into his tone. “So what is your conclusion? Is she a nuisance or threat to us?”
Mikasa felt the redness in her cheeks disappear immediately as her blood ran cold once again. Her heart thumped as rapidly and loudly as ever, the deafening noise appearing to echo throughout the corridor like the most ominous of drumbeats. The tense stillness that followed only made her hands even clammier. Levi’s next words would no doubt determine the fate between them for now, and while her curiosity could not be subdued, she also dreaded this moment of truth. She could actually detect her palms slipping from their grip, threatening to release her towards the earth without mercy and convicting her for the sin of desiring his answer above all other intentions.
“I do trust her, Erwin. More than most.”
She nearly plunged to the ground at his confession, her traitorous fingers stumbling to latch onto the beam where they had loosened out of shock.
“But…I no longer trust myself around her.”
Though still focusing on the struggle with her grip, Mikasa felt her eyes widen at the additional implications of that second statement.
“Trust yourself? You mean you might suddenly get the urge to kill her?”
“Tch…quite the opposite.” Levi’s tone was one of irritated surrender. “If you still recall I had warned you about how we must be cautious here. But as it turns out, I’m the one who has let down my damn guard.”
And now I’ve let down mine. Her mind allowed a final revelation before her body officially lost control. As she fell through the air, Mikasa could only stiffen her muscles as much as possible, preparing to recover quickly from her uncharacteristic error and escape with haste.
The sound of body colliding against wood was most awful to her ears, even more unpleasant than the sweltering pain of the impact itself. Almost instantly, she picked herself up before dashing towards the nearby garden. The call that soon broadcasted behind her served as a petrifying reminder that from that moment onward, she would not be able to linger on any thought or action for too long.
Mikasa cursed her carelessness as she dashed at maximum speed, legs driving her forward through the confines of the back garden. Though the pathways were supposed to be familiar by now, they had somehow twisted into a maze as convoluted as her current mental state. Never before had she experienced such bewilderment in the middle of a mission, where even lifelong objectives had felt so compromised and unattainable. As defiant branches slapped against her arms and gatherings of leaves attempted to blockade her sight, the confidence of a successful escape began to waver.
Come on, come on—
Without warning, a single bullet whizzed through the air right next to her ear, the audible sound of its journey a grim reminder of how close her pursuer’s aim of her head had been. Mikasa did not need to turn to know the identity of said individual – there was only one person in Erwin’s faction who possessed agility and accuracy that rivaled hers, not to mention having access to such a supply of ammunition. The source of the shot had been completely hushed, indicating the usage of a sophisticated silencer – a rare find that Levi was known to have possessed.
Moment of truth, Mikasa. She zigzagged her escape path randomly in order to throw off the target on her back. Let’s see who will emerge victorious.
For now, she was at least thankful that her breaths had remained calm despite the exertion of energy towards her flight. If her diaphragm had succumbed to the exhaustion and nerves of an average human, she would have perished a hundred assignments ago. She knew very well, however, that strong lungs meant little against the piercing of bullets and the sounds of footsteps closing in. As two more projectiles ricocheted within her vicinity, one exploding into soil and another penetrating into bark that splintered against her arm, her mind quickly strategized the best course of action.
Just as her options became more and more limited, Mikasa caught sight of the short wooden bridge in the rear that led to the garden pavilion. Recalling that whatever water that had been in the shallow depths below was already dried up, she darted in its direction without reluctance. As soon as she reached the elevated structure, she gingerly hopped onto the solid rocks beneath instead of running across, and her form disappeared into the shadows cast by the bridge itself.
Seconds later, the footsteps of her adversary thumped against the aged beams of wood, rattling the delicate assembly that she had crouched under. The second those sounds passed above her head, she reached up with both arms and lifted herself again, emerging wordlessly upon ground level with a full view of Levi’s back. He was wearing the same clothes from morning, only this time, something was attached against his waist. Before she could decipher the object, he froze mid-step as he sensed the unexpected presence, and as he twisted around to face her, she swung her long leg against his vulnerable wrist area, knocking the gun out of his hand with expertise.
The fierce momentum almost spun Levi’s entire body into the ground, but to Mikasa’s surprise he held on with little effort, not even flinching at the pain that must have throbbed his now-empty hand. Narrowing her eyes, she bent her knees and took a sparring posture in preparation for his next move.
“I know that stance.” He suddenly declared. “You must be the notorious Agent Ackerman.”
Her throat went dry at the accurate identification. Does he…recognize me?
“Finally we meet for the first time. I’ve been waiting for this day for too damn long.” His answer, clearly demonstrating unfamiliarity, provided Mikasa with temporary relief. “But very interesting - I never thought you would be so terrible at eavesdropping.”
Her fists clenched at the tease.
Unperturbed by her silence, Levi glanced with disappointment in the direction his gun had disappeared into. “Alas, I always preferred swords anyway…”
His hands reached towards his waist, and it was only then that Mikasa recognized the sleek, black tubular attachments as two short scabbards. The way he removed the backup weapons from their sheaths was almost serene, but the crisp sound of metal sliding against metal hinted at the brutality that was about to take place. Levi’s stance now mirrored hers, only instead of releasing a defensive aura, his was utterly destructive.
Two blades, just like the praying mantis of my childhood.
For whatever reason, her mind decided at this very moment to slip into reverie. The memory made her feel weightless, as if the rest of the universe had begun to dissolve around them. In the darkness she could vaguely perceive his determined eyes, so heartbreakingly solemn just the night before, but now full of the same lethal intent that she always watched Erwin with.
And what is it all for in the end?
Before her mind could conjure up a proper response, Levi was already halfway in the air, lunging towards her at dangerous speed.
Mikasa forced all her weight on her rear leg and propelled herself backward, allowing her torso to dodge the relentless attack barely in time. Levi’s blade whipped through the area right in front of her stomach, slicing through the thick air at petrifying velocity and even causing a delayed noise, as if the speed of his action had actually surpassed the sound barrier. Without hesitation, he reapproached her and attempted the same onslaught using his other weapon, but Mikasa had already shuffled behind a tree for protection. Instead of his blade becoming embedded into the solid wood, however, it hacked straight across the firm material, almost cutting the tree clean through save for a tiny sliver that somehow still managed to hold the vertical structure together.
Shit, he’s much faster than I even imagined. She thought as she continuously dove behind different obstructions. Her hastening breaths penetrated through the red material of her makeshift disguise, the sounds echoing within the fabric becoming louder and louder with each intake.
"It’s useless, Mr. Ackerman." His voice resounded throughout the garden just as she thought she had moved out of his range of vision. "You have no escape routes this time. Quit hiding like a shitty thief already - let’s settle this man-to-man."
Mr.? Man-to-man? Mikasa could not hold back a scoff, feeling terribly insulted at his - and apparently The Legion’s - ongoing misidentification of her gender.
Despite everything, Levi, I may have to get aggressive with you for that blasphemous assumption alone.
With that, she waited for an opportunity. And mere moments later, it came in the form of Levi’s own oversight. As he hacked towards another tree standing between them, focusing all energy on his favored arm, Mikasa took full advantage of the brief relaxation of his other limb. With a smooth and unforeseen dive towards his side, she reached out and twisted his dormant wrist behind him, triggering just enough pain for his grip to slightly loosen. The transition of weapon from his hand to hers was so swift that he barely had time to react, and by the time he wrestled himself away, she faced him nonchalantly with sword in hand. Her posture was now of defiance and challenge, her mind much less clouded with doubt or distraction.
“Impressive.” The hostility in Levi’s voice seemed to dissipate as he regarded her. “I see that they don’t call you the one ‘worth a hundred Squad members’ for nothing.”
Her brows furrowed at the moniker, but her concentration returned quickly.
Remember.
Escape.
With that purpose in mind, Mikasa began her own rounds of assault. As she leaped and attacked, she maintained her signature silence, never giving away the elevated timbre of her voice and disrupting the valuable misconceptions of her gender. Slowly but surely, his every movement began to complement hers, almost as if they could predict one another’s exact action out of countless possibilities. Metal clanged against metal in a series of harsh clatters, each impact generating sparks that gave fleeting visibility within the darkness. Together they took part in a dramatic dance with oblivion, defying its ruthless grasp despite traversing on the very edge swing after swing.
Strange. She mused. It’s almost as if we were training together instead of fighting to the death.
The belligerent yet lithe movements of Levi’s figure formed almost a striking performance, much more mesmerizing than the reduced routine from morning. He was not as flexible or analytical as her, but whatever he lacked in tactics he made up for in agility she could never hope to possess. And though these ongoing fears of his speed remained, Mikasa comprehended that in fact, they were quite evenly matched in the end – almost too alike.
It will all come down to who leaves a negligent opening first.
Whilst focusing on dodging and defending, she made use of her unrivaled footwork, positioning each leg at angles that were fully prepared to deliver her signature kicks. Less than a minute later, a swipe that went wider than usual for Levi left his mid-torso completely unshielded, and just as when she snatched away his second sword, Mikasa once again exploited the golden opportunity.
The still-hot bath welcomed her swift entrance, its milky surface parting and engulfing her figure like a tempestuous embrace as she submerged herself entirely. In those few crucial underwater seconds, she congratulated herself on the stroke of luck of having drawn the bath in advance, while her brain quickly strategized the next steps of her somewhat spontaneous plan – a plan in accordance with everything she had overheard.
Once she resurfaced, Mikasa ran both hands through her drenched hair, trapping all the previously loosened tresses against her scalp. Her muscles finally found relief from their soreness via the intense battle, relaxing as if they had never been employed in the most extreme chase-and-duel she ever experienced. Any sign that she had only just begun her self-cleaning routine disappeared into liquid form as sweat blended with bathwater, and she breathed deeply before sitting against the tub’s inner wall, awaiting the foreseeable guest with subdued anxiety. She had left the bathroom’s door open on purpose, as the alignment of her perspective to the entrance to her quarters – and any visitor’s view of her – would now be without obstruction.
Soon, the faint sound of running footsteps materialized, followed almost immediately by the rough sound of scraping wood as her main panel door was practically forced open.
“Mikasa!”
There was no denying the indistinct panic in Levi’s voice as he appeared behind the sliding pane and rushed into her space. In the faint light she could now see how truly – and unusually – unkempt he was after their vigorous meeting, with large batches of dirt invading the pure white of his shirt and cravat almost half undone. The dark hair that had fallen evenly from his head now held its own volition as sections were soaked in sweat and pointed in unpredictable directions. Breaths entered and exited his mouth at an erratic pace, only receding once his eyes finally found hers.
“Levi?” She stared at him with only the slightest dose of shock. “Why have you come here?”
“There was an intruder headed in this direction. I…” His voice cracked evidently as he began to perceive the atypical circumstances, almost gaping at how the tops of her breasts audaciously broke the surface of the bath. Mikasa made absolutely no attempt to cover herself, instead ensuring that her arm movements above water were as languid as possible, as if she paid no mind to his presence.
“You were concerned for my safety first and foremost?” She finished for him in an attempt to distract him further. As she ended the question, her entire body nonchalantly lifted itself out of the tub, allowing liquid to gracefully descend every subtle curve of her figure before recombining with its source.
Levi turned around as rapidly as she knew he was capable of, the grip on his weapon visibly tightening in the process.
“And what if I was?” The question came as a harsh whisper from his throat.
Retrieving her towel from the ground where she had tossed it much earlier, Mikasa dried herself and wrapped the material around her bare torso, enacting each motion at a calculated pace. Once she secured the towel, her legs began to carry her in his direction. Instead of stopping behind him, however, she bypassed unto a path directly towards the door, extending her arms to slide it shut once the panel was within proximity. She could almost feel his heated gaze burning holes upon her exposed shoulder blades and the backs of her thighs, seemingly evaporating all the water droplets that had stubbornly remained.
“No one was here.” She murmured.
The universe moved in at a snail’s pace as she turned around to face him, with her hooded eyes trained on the area below his neck instead of any higher. Wordlessly, she stepped into his vicinity, stretching both hands towards the cravat before starting to readjust its unruly state. The air between them mingled together as they gradually started to breathe at the same steady tempo, his rising chest gently grazing the ends of her fingers at every cycle.
Once finished with her task, Mikasa finally aligned their sights. Levi’s eyes were clouded with something indecipherable, and she knew instantly that he had forgotten the original purpose of chasing down his intended prey. Once again, she had captured the upperhand in their ever-unpredictable circumstances, and a part of her wanted to squeeze each opportunity dry before permitting its freedom.
Without breaking their gaze, Mikasa lowered her arms and reached for his right wrist. In a reversal from their morning encounter, her fingers pried open his rigid ones and released the sword’s grip from his hand, emancipating him both metaphorically and literally from his duty – and saving herself in the process. The weapon succumbed to the forces of gravity, delivering its final clang of the night as the metal blade made contact with the ground.
“Do not shed blood in my presence, Levi.” She regarded him with candid eyes during the ironic request. “Even if the right tool is in your hands.”
Slowly but surely, Levi’s entire façade gave way to a measure of uncertainty, as if he sought to deny himself in return for all the prospects she embodied. While the sincere brokenness in his gaze returned, so contrary to the force they had expressed in duel, Mikasa felt her own sense of determination waver. Unlike their last few encounters, there was no longer an attempt from him to decipher her in his orbs. Instead, what emerged was a genuine plead – a pleading for her to be the one to truly understand his plight, to forgive his past tribulations in a way that only she could.
And within the depths of her tortured, violent soul, she knew that she wanted the exact same thing from him.
The attraction between them buzzed with fervor, with every negligible movement demanding substantial response. Slowly, he leaned into her shoulder, leaving barely a centimeter between their cheeks. His already pale skin was practically dark next to her alabaster hue, and she gulped as every hair on her body became alert with anticipation.
“You were right, Mikasa. You’re not like me.” The murmur breathed gentle winds across her collarbone.
“But you are exactly what I need.”
Before she could react to his rousing words, Levi’s body shoved into hers and thrust them both against the fragile entryway, almost snapping the thin wooden framing in the process. Calloused hands arrived behind her thighs before hoisting her entire form into the air, the rough friction grating her back in an almost delicious manner. Though his arms thoroughly supported her weight, her legs instinctively hooked around his waist for security, precariously lingering her intimate heat above his pubic bone.
Levi. She mouthed as she watched him behind curtains of dark, wet hair, the soundless call a final command for him to continue.
Extending his neck upward, he heeded her request.
There was little foreplay as their kiss deepened from the start, and Levi’s hips ground roughly against her bare core while their tongues engaged in an ardent struggle. With each catch and release, his lips imprinted unchaste marks upon her subconscious, leaving no spot unaroused. Fingers gradually rose to bury themselves in the dampness of her hair and press at the small of her back, closing all possible distances as his torso melded into her like two halves of a whole. All the tension that had gathered since their initial meeting imploded to the pressure of this embrace, and Mikasa could feel the powerful tautness in his muscles, firm from the adrenaline still roaming through his system via their earlier skirmish. As a result, he was utterly solid everywhere she grasped, a frame of stimulated nerves and skin ready to be lit aflame.
“Oh Gods…” She gasped in between kisses, feeling dampness seep from within her directly onto the fabric of his slacks, exactly where a noticeable bulge had formed.
I am just like you, Levi. We are one and the same. Her mind raced with the silent confession as his mouth moved downward to seize the most tender parts of her neck, causing wanton moans to escape her throat. With their movements becoming more and more severe, she could feel the makeshift catch of her towel coming free, threatening to relinquish its responsibility as her only remaining shield. There was no turning back now; soon this man’s fingers would spread her open in every way, and those lips would devour her whole as he claimed her as his own—
“Levi!”
Like a heightened dosage of smelling salts, the vociferous call from just outside snatched both of them from their intoxicating embrace. Out of pure reflex, Mikasa immediately shoved the body against her aside, almost throwing Levi to the ground in the process while her own figure slid down until both feet touched ground. He regained his physical balance quickly – years of training evidently had not failed him – but a noticeable grumble resounded from his throat as he attempted to gather his mental composure as well. Right then, the door slid open to reveal brunette hair and the face of Hanji Zoe, ever so unpredictable in her actions.
“Hanji, what the hell are you—”
“There you are, Levi.” Spinning a pistol precariously around one finger, the spectacled woman appeared focused on her own goal and completely oblivious to what she had interrupted. “Have you checked the entire perimeter?”
As Levi gave a stern nod, Mikasa saw that his eyes were even more overcast than usual, with sharp daggers in Hanji’s direction concealed just beneath the surface of the glare. Moreover, at some point during their immodest actions, his cravat had become loose again, yet he made no attempt to tighten the fabric this time.
“It was that Agent Ackerman you were chasing, wasn’t it??” Still unaware of the conditions, Hanji’s eyes became possessed by an excited craze as she enunciated the notorious name. “If that’s the case, don’t you think we should leave here tomorrow, or even right now? If someone like him has come this close to us, then this lovely little place is obviously no longer secure…”
“No. I showed him firsthand what I was capable of, and if he were wise he will not return here again.” Though he attempted to express logic in his usual demeanor, the bitter annoyance in Levi’s voice could no longer be masked. “Our best strategy now is to stay put and not do what he was counting on - panic.”
Hanji must have finally noticed her comrade’s extra measure of resentment as well, since she stammered her agreement for the first time. Her animated stare drifted to the region below Levi’s waist before whizzing back and forth between that area and Mikasa’s disheveled appearance - only then did her face dawn with ample realization.
Immediately, Levi crouched down to salvage his sword, evidently not wanting to be scrutinized any further while still in his standing position. “Let’s go. Erwin’s probably awaiting our report.”
“Are…are you sure?” Hanji chuckled nervously, eyes following his somewhat strained path out the room.
Observing the entire scene from the side, Mikasa began to feel an acute sense of loss as the distance between them lengthened once more. But just as Levi stepped outside her doorway, he glanced back one final time. The look was so saturated with hunger and promise that she gasped, her body giving off a forceful tremble as if he had stimulated her whole being within a single second.
Meanwhile, Hanji gave her an apologetic bow before withdrawing herself from Mikasa’s quarters.
“So…what you said about the Ackerman guy is your only reason for wanting us to stay?” The brunette woman’s fading voice sounded as Mikasa watched the back of her ponytail bouncing with each step. “I mean I agree and all…”
“Fuck off, Hanji.”
As she overheard the last words of the conversation, Mikasa grinned to herself at the ultimate success of the haphazard plot to protect her own identity. However, any sense of satisfaction dissipated into thin air as she realized that her personal longing had now overflowed beyond any resistances. Whether their mutual movements stemmed out of violence or yearning, between Levi and herself existed a haunting synchrony that could not be replicated by any other. She could no longer deny that she wanted to seize unto the sordid past of this man – this sinister adversary of a man - to revel in his dangerous tendencies and never let go. Their vicious experiences had lacerated them both from the inside out, and the only solace to be recovered was somewhere within one another. In these past few days, she may have broken down his stoic walls brick-by-brick, but unbeknownst to others her own barrier was crumbling at the exact same pace.
Like a moth to a fatal flame, she was enticed by the beauty of what his movements and touches promised, yet in the most clandestine corners of Mikasa’s mind, the savage fantasy of this consummation of desires ended with thick liquid of furious crimson coating both of their naked forms. In all her previous visions, it was always Erwin’s blood upon solid ground, spilled by her merciless hands. But this time, Mikasa knew the substance saturating the caverns of her imagination was gushing from the crevices of her own skin.
Bloodlust. Levi’s voice vibrated against her eardrum as she beckoned each syllable from memory and reconstructed its meaning.
Lust that bears blood as consequence.
Source: http://fuku-shuu.tumblr.com/post/69069462314/fukushuu-chapter-iii
-
Chapter III
-
“I have read the glowing reviews of your past mission performances, agent Ackerman. Going way back to even your training days.”
The austere room Mikasa sat in felt uncomfortably small as Director Hannes’ voice bounced off the walls before reaching her ears. For the office of such a high-level position it was the humblest of sizes, though she always heard that it was more due to the director’s own modesty rather than any limited resources on Squad 104’s part. There were certain figures within the organization enjoying utter extravagance in their workspaces, and while the rumors of direct bribery from certain politicians being a factor always persisted, nothing was ever substantiated. Hannes himself was never a suspect of such behavior, and his compliment, spoken with the most genuine of tones, supported that notion a bit further.
“Thank you, sir. My superiors and instructors have been too generous.”
“No need to downplay your abilities.” The blonde man leaned forward with clasped hands, his thin mustache shifting with each spoken word. “We like it better here when attitudes are pushed to the extreme. It is a sign of surefire survival.”
Mikasa readjusted her stance, ensuring that her posture was even straighter than before. “Yes, sir. Understood.”
“I am glad to see you can relate to that mentality.” Hannes nodded with an approving glint in his eyes. “Now, as you know, you are now up for a transfer to the most elite sector of Squad 104. However, there has been a single concern circulating amongst the directors…is it true that you have had a personal agenda to fulfill from the day you joined us?”
“That is correct, sir.” She responded with fluidity, already anticipating that question ever since her last round of evaluations. “But please be assured that my goals fall in line with the agency’s overall objective. I will always prioritize the squad’s needs above my own.”
Hannes’ look turned from approval to curiosity. “Would you elaborate upon what you seek to achieve?”
“I would like to personally assassinate the leader of The Legion, Erwin Smith.” There was no hesitation in her voice as she divulged what she had never intended to hide from her superior. “Sir.”
“Well, that is certainly in line with the Squad’s eventual aim…” Hannes gave his fingers a brief twiddle, evidently contemplating how the revelation could be applied in the ongoing conflict. “…might I ask why, agent Ackerman?”
“He was responsible for the death of my parents eight years ago.”
—
Before her dreamscape launched her into bloodstained memories again,
Mikasa’s ashen eyes opened to the rays penetrating through her window
pane.—
The Sun… She sat up without her usual amount of morning fatigue, surprised by the unprecedented illumination and the vivid blue skies that greeted her sight. How did the sky clear up this much?
At the revelation, she rushed towards the sink and splashed her face thoroughly, wanting to ensure that she was no longer just trapped within another dream. Moments later, as she donned her morning Yukata, Mikasa drank in the bold greens of the leaves peering into her main window, her mind in complete wonder that the world had experienced such a revival overnight. In the midst of her enchantment, she overheard faint noises originating from the courtyard beyond the bushes and trees, ranging from light grunts to the “swoosh” of something cleanly slicing through air.
Adjusting the tie on her robe, Mikasa exited her quarters and investigated the source of the unfamiliar sounds. As soon as her eyes caught the figure moving about upon the cracked cement ground, a long katana in hand, she felt her insides coil with both nervousness and anticipation.
Dressed in a monotonous getup – white shirt and black slacks - shadows danced across Levi’s features as he quickly transitioned from pose to pose, the graceful elegance displayed from his limbs outright contrary to the vehemence behind the sword’s swings. In the unusual brightness his hair was a reflective obsidian, and each piece that fell from his scalp shifted loosely with the varied tilts of his head, forming fragile veils against those scrutinizing eyes. Each movement was clean, executed with utter precision that she had only witnessed from top masters as a child. And though his actions were far from belligerent, even at a distance she could detect the surplus of ferocity lying dormant beneath. With all their encounters thus far, combined with this very moment, Mikasa knew that the rumors had held more truth than anyone realized – Levi’s mystifying exterior was the biggest smokescreen of them all, concealing a precarious nature that would be unleashed at will.
So similar to me. Yet again.
“Enjoying the weather, Mikasa?” His firm voice interrupted her thoughts in its usual manner as he acknowledged her presence, though he never looked straight at her as his body continued to carry out its routine. The way he stretched his back caused patterned wrinkles to appear across his shirt, its fitted form giving a glimpse at the arresting musculature underneath.
Wrestling her line of sight away, Mikasa carefully strode down the two stone steps in front of her, head now raised upward towards the azure expanse instead of in his direction. “I…I don’t even recall the last time I saw the sky like this.”
“The credit goes to Hanji.” He responded while turning to also look skyward, the face of his blade doubling as a temporary shade for his eyes. “It’s the new project she has been leading on her own. No government interference or involvement, though I’m sure those bastards are taking credit for it as we speak.”
Mikasa slowed in her journey into the courtyard, as she was utterly caught off-guard by his answer. Never in any of the files she reviewed were duties beneficial for the masses attributed to The Legion. Felony after felony, they were categorized as ruthless characters in a dangerous faction, and nothing more.
“In fact it is why we are here in town.” Levi continued, his usual tone of confidence only half present as he attempted to elaborate on details he evidently could not comprehend himself. “She is executing the final scientific phase of the experiment around this area, launching random shit into the atmosphere and all.”
“I didn’t realize that your group supported ventures of this purpose and scale.”
“Like I told you before, we thrive on extreme strokes of action.” He tossed his katana into the air skillfully, catching the handle just as the weapon made a few complete twists. “Even if we only get public credit for the things that condemn us, it’s about instilling fear into the sorry excuse we have for a political system - to remind them that they have failed where we will succeed.”
She was barely an arm’s length away from him now, so close that she was tempted to catch the katana herself when it came downward into his hand. When Levi turned and their gazes met at last, Mikasa detected him freezing in place and felt slight apprehension, unsure if he was staring because something about her morning appearance was unkempt. But as gray looked deeper into blue, she saw that he was in a trance of sorts, as if in this splendid light he was seeing her – truly seeing her - for the very first time.
“What is it?” She inserted concern into her question, genuinely wanting him to express his exact thoughts.
Levi broke away, focusing his attention on the gleaming surface of the sword instead. “Nothing.”
Dismay bubbled within her at his non-answer, though she also berated herself for needing to know. Instead of pushing the boundaries further, she denied her personal curiosity and changed the subject.
“This is the first time I have known a foreigner so skilled with a katana.”
An uncustomary grin surfaced onto his harsh features as he progressed onward with his exercise, cutting through the morning air briskly and almost splitting open the tops of adjacent shrubs in the process.
“We train ourselves in all types of weaponry and combat. You never know what kind of enemies you might encounter - crooked politicians can have the most unpredictable guards.”
“Why do you insist on being in the right, Levi?” She bit back at his choice of adjectives as she followed him, careful not to intrude upon the region that would be vulnerable to his upcoming swings. “You might find the same tea repulsive, but like those you call ‘crooked,’ you are still drinking it in the end.”
At her remembrance of their previous conversation, Levi halted mid-attack to glance back. This time there was another look in his eyes – one that contained both the recognition of his weakness from the night before and the will of not submitting to it again. Without another word he retraced his previous path, pupils dark with mysterious intent. Eventually, his figure began to circle her like a hunter, the sharp edge of the blade grazing the hem of her robe while his free hand remained in his pocket.
“Have you ever been wronged, Mikasa?” He questioned impassively. “Assaulted by one of your previous customers, perhaps?”
She gulped as the painful memories of her parents flooded back without warning. “Perhaps.”
“Wouldn’t you…” He stopped behind her, positioning himself right in the blindspot where she could not determine his next actions. “…have an unstoppable desire to retaliate if the right tools were placed in your hands?”
He’s testing me a final time.
“I am just a dancer.” She clenched her fists, preparing to retaliate if necessary. “Not a killer.”
Gradually, his arms lifted around her still frame, reaching for her right hand before inserting the katana handle into her palm. With his chest against her back and biceps wrapped around her torso, his fingers beckoned for hers to close around the weapon. When she hesitated, he began to meticulously complete the task for her, one digit at a time.
“Don’t lie to yourself, Mikasa.” The fabric of his cravat and his breath tickled against the back of her ear. “When I pinned you down that night, all your adrenaline desired is to snatch away that blade and slice through my flesh instead.”
Mikasa shuddered from the feeling of him around her, almost immobilized by the magnitude of his presence. And though a part of her wanted to savor this moment, she responded the only way she could to quell all his remaining suspicions.
“I am not like you, Levi.”
Levi’s arms immediately released her at the phrase, as if he had been scorched by the burning tone. She still gripped the katana on her own accord, but she was careful to feign unfamiliarity with the weapon. As she dangled the sword as awkwardly as possible and looked back to analyze his reaction, she saw that he was gazing upward once more.
“In this godforsaken world, Mikasa, we all contract bloodlust eventually.”
With those words, the sunlight that previously shone so brilliantly began to dim. When she looked up for the reason, she saw that gray hues had returned to cruelly mask the skies. The dullness once again echoed her own eyes and the lifeless eyes of all her previous victims, each meeting death in a format of her choosing, and every gaping bullet wound or severed artery burning permanent scars upon her own psyche. She wanted desperately to declare to the man next to her that they were in fact more similar than he could imagine, that she wanted to preserve this rare connection between them. Yet as she watched the canopy of monotony that brought a tragic end to whatever temporary solution Hanji had conjured up, Mikasa knew that what they had was the most ill-fated connection of all.
“Looks like her plan worked. For a while, anyway.”
The new mundane voice took Mikasa by complete surprise, especially as she had not realized how much she had lowered her guard. When she glanced at Levi, however, she realized that she was not alone – he appeared just as startled as she was when he saw Erwin Smith standing just meters away from them, arms folded and dressed in dark, semi-formal attire. As usual his was a foreboding presence, and one that poisoned her spirit with every second of his survival.
Though she kept her facial expression as unaffected as possible, there was no mistaking the temptation for her limbs to leap into action while she possessed a precious weapon in her hand.
I am literally this close to my goal.
Armin’s orders to wait resonated within her ears.
And yet…
“Good morning to you, Miss Mikasa. Levi.” Erwin bowed in his disconcertingly gentlemanlike manner. “Sorry to have disturbed you.”
She could only bow in return, lips pursed in a tight line.
“Erwin.” Levi swung by her just as she returned to her upright stance. “We need to meet.”
There was a strange urgency in his voice that Mikasa had not anticipated, and in that brief moment of confusion, she inadvertently permitted his agile hands to retrieve the katana with no effort.
The taller man nodded once. “This evening, then.”
“Fine.” Levi rushed past his superior and retreated from the courtyard in large, quick steps, vanishing like the passing wind. It was not until the sounds of his footsteps faded that Mikasa realized how he had not bid any farewell to her. And just as she was contemplating that circumstance, Erwin gave her his.
“Miss Mikasa, I shall take my leave.”
Her eyes instantly became predatory as they followed Erwin’s steady
departure, the force of her stare springing a silent curse with each
step that the man took. Her hand that previously held the katana visibly
quivered, fingers still forming a phantom shape around the handle that
was previously there.
—
Daylight came and went, and evening fell like a brooding shroud as
Mikasa watched the sun’s descent through her window. With only a towel
enclosed around her torso, she ran her fingers through the steamy water
within her bath, hoping that the calming motion would suppress any
desire to eavesdrop upon Levi and Erwin. While she knew she could always
get the audio data from Connie later on, something within the two men’s
brief exchange from morning triggered her instincts, and the need to
hear the discussion for herself swelled more and more with each nautical
voyage of her hands.—
Her body was torn, wedged between the craving to relax in liquid warmth and the need to become dynamic after such a long period of immobility. She was not accustomed to the former, as both her routine training and her usual missions required far more physical prowess. Seeing Levi brandishing his sword so freely had splintered her resolve, and if she was trapped within this masquerade for much longer, Mikasa knew she would start to become distressed.
“Fuck it.” Officially breaking character, she splashed the surface and stood upright. Her hands hastily pitched her towel aside before she dove into her wardrobe, searching for the one attire that brought her familiarity and comfort.
Moments later, Mikasa’s vague shadow meandered across the dimly-lit grounds, agile feet advancing her figure from location to location in expert silence as she made her way towards Erwin’s room. Her entire figure blended into the night, with her covert black jumpsuit, dark red headscarf that also concealed the majority of her face, and lightweight boots all deeming her nearly imperceptible. She was now more than acquainted with the nooks and crannies of the teahouse layout, being careful to avoid any light sources and occasionally making gestures towards where she knew cameras were hidden, just because she enjoyed the thought of someone on the Squad’s side watching her with sweatier-than-usual palms.
As she approached her destination, she limberly grasped the wooden ceiling beam above and elevated herself, bending into a position where she knew she would not be detected as easily from even within the corridor itself. Centimeter by centimeter she shifted the final distance towards the entrance, and once close enough, she extended her neck towards the papered top section of the doorway – also the least soundproof area.
“…yes, have them positioned here during the meeting.” Her ear caught the end of one of Erwin’s hushed sentences.
“Already done.” Came Levi’s answer spoken in his brassy timbre.
“So we are finished, then.”
Mikasa cursed inside. I may have missed what I came for. But to her immediate relief, Erwin’s next statement revived some hope.
“Unless you have anything else to add, Levi?”
“Not really.”
“Are you certain?” Mikasa could almost visualize Erwin’s eyebrows rising as he questioned his subordinate. “I thought you had wanted to discuss the young lady in your arms this morning.”
Despite the account being spoken by her most-hated enemy, she still flushed with both shame and uneasiness as she imagined what the earlier scene must’ve looked like to any bystander.
Faint shuffling sounds emerged, no doubt a sign of Levi’s own agitation. “You saw…?”
“Of course I did.” The blond man gave a rather teasing response before infusing weight into his tone. “So what is your conclusion? Is she a nuisance or threat to us?”
Mikasa felt the redness in her cheeks disappear immediately as her blood ran cold once again. Her heart thumped as rapidly and loudly as ever, the deafening noise appearing to echo throughout the corridor like the most ominous of drumbeats. The tense stillness that followed only made her hands even clammier. Levi’s next words would no doubt determine the fate between them for now, and while her curiosity could not be subdued, she also dreaded this moment of truth. She could actually detect her palms slipping from their grip, threatening to release her towards the earth without mercy and convicting her for the sin of desiring his answer above all other intentions.
“I do trust her, Erwin. More than most.”
She nearly plunged to the ground at his confession, her traitorous fingers stumbling to latch onto the beam where they had loosened out of shock.
“But…I no longer trust myself around her.”
Though still focusing on the struggle with her grip, Mikasa felt her eyes widen at the additional implications of that second statement.
“Trust yourself? You mean you might suddenly get the urge to kill her?”
“Tch…quite the opposite.” Levi’s tone was one of irritated surrender. “If you still recall I had warned you about how we must be cautious here. But as it turns out, I’m the one who has let down my damn guard.”
And now I’ve let down mine. Her mind allowed a final revelation before her body officially lost control. As she fell through the air, Mikasa could only stiffen her muscles as much as possible, preparing to recover quickly from her uncharacteristic error and escape with haste.
The sound of body colliding against wood was most awful to her ears, even more unpleasant than the sweltering pain of the impact itself. Almost instantly, she picked herself up before dashing towards the nearby garden. The call that soon broadcasted behind her served as a petrifying reminder that from that moment onward, she would not be able to linger on any thought or action for too long.
“Who’s there?!”
—
Shit.—
Mikasa cursed her carelessness as she dashed at maximum speed, legs driving her forward through the confines of the back garden. Though the pathways were supposed to be familiar by now, they had somehow twisted into a maze as convoluted as her current mental state. Never before had she experienced such bewilderment in the middle of a mission, where even lifelong objectives had felt so compromised and unattainable. As defiant branches slapped against her arms and gatherings of leaves attempted to blockade her sight, the confidence of a successful escape began to waver.
Come on, come on—
Without warning, a single bullet whizzed through the air right next to her ear, the audible sound of its journey a grim reminder of how close her pursuer’s aim of her head had been. Mikasa did not need to turn to know the identity of said individual – there was only one person in Erwin’s faction who possessed agility and accuracy that rivaled hers, not to mention having access to such a supply of ammunition. The source of the shot had been completely hushed, indicating the usage of a sophisticated silencer – a rare find that Levi was known to have possessed.
Moment of truth, Mikasa. She zigzagged her escape path randomly in order to throw off the target on her back. Let’s see who will emerge victorious.
For now, she was at least thankful that her breaths had remained calm despite the exertion of energy towards her flight. If her diaphragm had succumbed to the exhaustion and nerves of an average human, she would have perished a hundred assignments ago. She knew very well, however, that strong lungs meant little against the piercing of bullets and the sounds of footsteps closing in. As two more projectiles ricocheted within her vicinity, one exploding into soil and another penetrating into bark that splintered against her arm, her mind quickly strategized the best course of action.
Just as her options became more and more limited, Mikasa caught sight of the short wooden bridge in the rear that led to the garden pavilion. Recalling that whatever water that had been in the shallow depths below was already dried up, she darted in its direction without reluctance. As soon as she reached the elevated structure, she gingerly hopped onto the solid rocks beneath instead of running across, and her form disappeared into the shadows cast by the bridge itself.
Seconds later, the footsteps of her adversary thumped against the aged beams of wood, rattling the delicate assembly that she had crouched under. The second those sounds passed above her head, she reached up with both arms and lifted herself again, emerging wordlessly upon ground level with a full view of Levi’s back. He was wearing the same clothes from morning, only this time, something was attached against his waist. Before she could decipher the object, he froze mid-step as he sensed the unexpected presence, and as he twisted around to face her, she swung her long leg against his vulnerable wrist area, knocking the gun out of his hand with expertise.
The fierce momentum almost spun Levi’s entire body into the ground, but to Mikasa’s surprise he held on with little effort, not even flinching at the pain that must have throbbed his now-empty hand. Narrowing her eyes, she bent her knees and took a sparring posture in preparation for his next move.
“I know that stance.” He suddenly declared. “You must be the notorious Agent Ackerman.”
Her throat went dry at the accurate identification. Does he…recognize me?
“Finally we meet for the first time. I’ve been waiting for this day for too damn long.” His answer, clearly demonstrating unfamiliarity, provided Mikasa with temporary relief. “But very interesting - I never thought you would be so terrible at eavesdropping.”
Her fists clenched at the tease.
Unperturbed by her silence, Levi glanced with disappointment in the direction his gun had disappeared into. “Alas, I always preferred swords anyway…”
His hands reached towards his waist, and it was only then that Mikasa recognized the sleek, black tubular attachments as two short scabbards. The way he removed the backup weapons from their sheaths was almost serene, but the crisp sound of metal sliding against metal hinted at the brutality that was about to take place. Levi’s stance now mirrored hers, only instead of releasing a defensive aura, his was utterly destructive.
Two blades, just like the praying mantis of my childhood.
For whatever reason, her mind decided at this very moment to slip into reverie. The memory made her feel weightless, as if the rest of the universe had begun to dissolve around them. In the darkness she could vaguely perceive his determined eyes, so heartbreakingly solemn just the night before, but now full of the same lethal intent that she always watched Erwin with.
And what is it all for in the end?
Before her mind could conjure up a proper response, Levi was already halfway in the air, lunging towards her at dangerous speed.
Mikasa forced all her weight on her rear leg and propelled herself backward, allowing her torso to dodge the relentless attack barely in time. Levi’s blade whipped through the area right in front of her stomach, slicing through the thick air at petrifying velocity and even causing a delayed noise, as if the speed of his action had actually surpassed the sound barrier. Without hesitation, he reapproached her and attempted the same onslaught using his other weapon, but Mikasa had already shuffled behind a tree for protection. Instead of his blade becoming embedded into the solid wood, however, it hacked straight across the firm material, almost cutting the tree clean through save for a tiny sliver that somehow still managed to hold the vertical structure together.
Shit, he’s much faster than I even imagined. She thought as she continuously dove behind different obstructions. Her hastening breaths penetrated through the red material of her makeshift disguise, the sounds echoing within the fabric becoming louder and louder with each intake.
"It’s useless, Mr. Ackerman." His voice resounded throughout the garden just as she thought she had moved out of his range of vision. "You have no escape routes this time. Quit hiding like a shitty thief already - let’s settle this man-to-man."
Mr.? Man-to-man? Mikasa could not hold back a scoff, feeling terribly insulted at his - and apparently The Legion’s - ongoing misidentification of her gender.
Despite everything, Levi, I may have to get aggressive with you for that blasphemous assumption alone.
With that, she waited for an opportunity. And mere moments later, it came in the form of Levi’s own oversight. As he hacked towards another tree standing between them, focusing all energy on his favored arm, Mikasa took full advantage of the brief relaxation of his other limb. With a smooth and unforeseen dive towards his side, she reached out and twisted his dormant wrist behind him, triggering just enough pain for his grip to slightly loosen. The transition of weapon from his hand to hers was so swift that he barely had time to react, and by the time he wrestled himself away, she faced him nonchalantly with sword in hand. Her posture was now of defiance and challenge, her mind much less clouded with doubt or distraction.
“Impressive.” The hostility in Levi’s voice seemed to dissipate as he regarded her. “I see that they don’t call you the one ‘worth a hundred Squad members’ for nothing.”
Her brows furrowed at the moniker, but her concentration returned quickly.
Remember.
Escape.
With that purpose in mind, Mikasa began her own rounds of assault. As she leaped and attacked, she maintained her signature silence, never giving away the elevated timbre of her voice and disrupting the valuable misconceptions of her gender. Slowly but surely, his every movement began to complement hers, almost as if they could predict one another’s exact action out of countless possibilities. Metal clanged against metal in a series of harsh clatters, each impact generating sparks that gave fleeting visibility within the darkness. Together they took part in a dramatic dance with oblivion, defying its ruthless grasp despite traversing on the very edge swing after swing.
Strange. She mused. It’s almost as if we were training together instead of fighting to the death.
The belligerent yet lithe movements of Levi’s figure formed almost a striking performance, much more mesmerizing than the reduced routine from morning. He was not as flexible or analytical as her, but whatever he lacked in tactics he made up for in agility she could never hope to possess. And though these ongoing fears of his speed remained, Mikasa comprehended that in fact, they were quite evenly matched in the end – almost too alike.
It will all come down to who leaves a negligent opening first.
Whilst focusing on dodging and defending, she made use of her unrivaled footwork, positioning each leg at angles that were fully prepared to deliver her signature kicks. Less than a minute later, a swipe that went wider than usual for Levi left his mid-torso completely unshielded, and just as when she snatched away his second sword, Mikasa once again exploited the golden opportunity.
Almost in slow motion, the bottom of her boot crushed itself against
his chest, sending him airborne and likely driving all remaining air
from his lungs. Briefly, she wondered if there would be a bruise in the
outline of the sole the next day. As his groan sounded mid-flight,
followed closely by the painful noise of impact against solid ground –
echoing hers from earlier – Mikasa’s feet turned and began to transport
her away from the scene, making haste towards her own quarters.
—
Slipping into the same opening she had watched the dusk through
earlier, Mikasa stripped herself down with swift expertise, hiding every
piece of her black disguise behind a removable cabinet and allowing the
bandages that constricted her breasts to collapse at her feet after she
loosened the coils. The chilly night air caressed her bare skin, but
before any goosebumps appeared, she smoothly cast herself into the
steaming tub.—
The still-hot bath welcomed her swift entrance, its milky surface parting and engulfing her figure like a tempestuous embrace as she submerged herself entirely. In those few crucial underwater seconds, she congratulated herself on the stroke of luck of having drawn the bath in advance, while her brain quickly strategized the next steps of her somewhat spontaneous plan – a plan in accordance with everything she had overheard.
Once she resurfaced, Mikasa ran both hands through her drenched hair, trapping all the previously loosened tresses against her scalp. Her muscles finally found relief from their soreness via the intense battle, relaxing as if they had never been employed in the most extreme chase-and-duel she ever experienced. Any sign that she had only just begun her self-cleaning routine disappeared into liquid form as sweat blended with bathwater, and she breathed deeply before sitting against the tub’s inner wall, awaiting the foreseeable guest with subdued anxiety. She had left the bathroom’s door open on purpose, as the alignment of her perspective to the entrance to her quarters – and any visitor’s view of her – would now be without obstruction.
Soon, the faint sound of running footsteps materialized, followed almost immediately by the rough sound of scraping wood as her main panel door was practically forced open.
“Mikasa!”
There was no denying the indistinct panic in Levi’s voice as he appeared behind the sliding pane and rushed into her space. In the faint light she could now see how truly – and unusually – unkempt he was after their vigorous meeting, with large batches of dirt invading the pure white of his shirt and cravat almost half undone. The dark hair that had fallen evenly from his head now held its own volition as sections were soaked in sweat and pointed in unpredictable directions. Breaths entered and exited his mouth at an erratic pace, only receding once his eyes finally found hers.
“Levi?” She stared at him with only the slightest dose of shock. “Why have you come here?”
“There was an intruder headed in this direction. I…” His voice cracked evidently as he began to perceive the atypical circumstances, almost gaping at how the tops of her breasts audaciously broke the surface of the bath. Mikasa made absolutely no attempt to cover herself, instead ensuring that her arm movements above water were as languid as possible, as if she paid no mind to his presence.
“You were concerned for my safety first and foremost?” She finished for him in an attempt to distract him further. As she ended the question, her entire body nonchalantly lifted itself out of the tub, allowing liquid to gracefully descend every subtle curve of her figure before recombining with its source.
Levi turned around as rapidly as she knew he was capable of, the grip on his weapon visibly tightening in the process.
“And what if I was?” The question came as a harsh whisper from his throat.
Retrieving her towel from the ground where she had tossed it much earlier, Mikasa dried herself and wrapped the material around her bare torso, enacting each motion at a calculated pace. Once she secured the towel, her legs began to carry her in his direction. Instead of stopping behind him, however, she bypassed unto a path directly towards the door, extending her arms to slide it shut once the panel was within proximity. She could almost feel his heated gaze burning holes upon her exposed shoulder blades and the backs of her thighs, seemingly evaporating all the water droplets that had stubbornly remained.
“No one was here.” She murmured.
The universe moved in at a snail’s pace as she turned around to face him, with her hooded eyes trained on the area below his neck instead of any higher. Wordlessly, she stepped into his vicinity, stretching both hands towards the cravat before starting to readjust its unruly state. The air between them mingled together as they gradually started to breathe at the same steady tempo, his rising chest gently grazing the ends of her fingers at every cycle.
Once finished with her task, Mikasa finally aligned their sights. Levi’s eyes were clouded with something indecipherable, and she knew instantly that he had forgotten the original purpose of chasing down his intended prey. Once again, she had captured the upperhand in their ever-unpredictable circumstances, and a part of her wanted to squeeze each opportunity dry before permitting its freedom.
Without breaking their gaze, Mikasa lowered her arms and reached for his right wrist. In a reversal from their morning encounter, her fingers pried open his rigid ones and released the sword’s grip from his hand, emancipating him both metaphorically and literally from his duty – and saving herself in the process. The weapon succumbed to the forces of gravity, delivering its final clang of the night as the metal blade made contact with the ground.
“Do not shed blood in my presence, Levi.” She regarded him with candid eyes during the ironic request. “Even if the right tool is in your hands.”
Slowly but surely, Levi’s entire façade gave way to a measure of uncertainty, as if he sought to deny himself in return for all the prospects she embodied. While the sincere brokenness in his gaze returned, so contrary to the force they had expressed in duel, Mikasa felt her own sense of determination waver. Unlike their last few encounters, there was no longer an attempt from him to decipher her in his orbs. Instead, what emerged was a genuine plead – a pleading for her to be the one to truly understand his plight, to forgive his past tribulations in a way that only she could.
And within the depths of her tortured, violent soul, she knew that she wanted the exact same thing from him.
The attraction between them buzzed with fervor, with every negligible movement demanding substantial response. Slowly, he leaned into her shoulder, leaving barely a centimeter between their cheeks. His already pale skin was practically dark next to her alabaster hue, and she gulped as every hair on her body became alert with anticipation.
“You were right, Mikasa. You’re not like me.” The murmur breathed gentle winds across her collarbone.
“But you are exactly what I need.”
Before she could react to his rousing words, Levi’s body shoved into hers and thrust them both against the fragile entryway, almost snapping the thin wooden framing in the process. Calloused hands arrived behind her thighs before hoisting her entire form into the air, the rough friction grating her back in an almost delicious manner. Though his arms thoroughly supported her weight, her legs instinctively hooked around his waist for security, precariously lingering her intimate heat above his pubic bone.
Levi. She mouthed as she watched him behind curtains of dark, wet hair, the soundless call a final command for him to continue.
Extending his neck upward, he heeded her request.
There was little foreplay as their kiss deepened from the start, and Levi’s hips ground roughly against her bare core while their tongues engaged in an ardent struggle. With each catch and release, his lips imprinted unchaste marks upon her subconscious, leaving no spot unaroused. Fingers gradually rose to bury themselves in the dampness of her hair and press at the small of her back, closing all possible distances as his torso melded into her like two halves of a whole. All the tension that had gathered since their initial meeting imploded to the pressure of this embrace, and Mikasa could feel the powerful tautness in his muscles, firm from the adrenaline still roaming through his system via their earlier skirmish. As a result, he was utterly solid everywhere she grasped, a frame of stimulated nerves and skin ready to be lit aflame.
“Oh Gods…” She gasped in between kisses, feeling dampness seep from within her directly onto the fabric of his slacks, exactly where a noticeable bulge had formed.
I am just like you, Levi. We are one and the same. Her mind raced with the silent confession as his mouth moved downward to seize the most tender parts of her neck, causing wanton moans to escape her throat. With their movements becoming more and more severe, she could feel the makeshift catch of her towel coming free, threatening to relinquish its responsibility as her only remaining shield. There was no turning back now; soon this man’s fingers would spread her open in every way, and those lips would devour her whole as he claimed her as his own—
“Levi!”
Like a heightened dosage of smelling salts, the vociferous call from just outside snatched both of them from their intoxicating embrace. Out of pure reflex, Mikasa immediately shoved the body against her aside, almost throwing Levi to the ground in the process while her own figure slid down until both feet touched ground. He regained his physical balance quickly – years of training evidently had not failed him – but a noticeable grumble resounded from his throat as he attempted to gather his mental composure as well. Right then, the door slid open to reveal brunette hair and the face of Hanji Zoe, ever so unpredictable in her actions.
“Hanji, what the hell are you—”
“There you are, Levi.” Spinning a pistol precariously around one finger, the spectacled woman appeared focused on her own goal and completely oblivious to what she had interrupted. “Have you checked the entire perimeter?”
As Levi gave a stern nod, Mikasa saw that his eyes were even more overcast than usual, with sharp daggers in Hanji’s direction concealed just beneath the surface of the glare. Moreover, at some point during their immodest actions, his cravat had become loose again, yet he made no attempt to tighten the fabric this time.
“It was that Agent Ackerman you were chasing, wasn’t it??” Still unaware of the conditions, Hanji’s eyes became possessed by an excited craze as she enunciated the notorious name. “If that’s the case, don’t you think we should leave here tomorrow, or even right now? If someone like him has come this close to us, then this lovely little place is obviously no longer secure…”
“No. I showed him firsthand what I was capable of, and if he were wise he will not return here again.” Though he attempted to express logic in his usual demeanor, the bitter annoyance in Levi’s voice could no longer be masked. “Our best strategy now is to stay put and not do what he was counting on - panic.”
Hanji must have finally noticed her comrade’s extra measure of resentment as well, since she stammered her agreement for the first time. Her animated stare drifted to the region below Levi’s waist before whizzing back and forth between that area and Mikasa’s disheveled appearance - only then did her face dawn with ample realization.
Immediately, Levi crouched down to salvage his sword, evidently not wanting to be scrutinized any further while still in his standing position. “Let’s go. Erwin’s probably awaiting our report.”
“Are…are you sure?” Hanji chuckled nervously, eyes following his somewhat strained path out the room.
Observing the entire scene from the side, Mikasa began to feel an acute sense of loss as the distance between them lengthened once more. But just as Levi stepped outside her doorway, he glanced back one final time. The look was so saturated with hunger and promise that she gasped, her body giving off a forceful tremble as if he had stimulated her whole being within a single second.
Meanwhile, Hanji gave her an apologetic bow before withdrawing herself from Mikasa’s quarters.
“So…what you said about the Ackerman guy is your only reason for wanting us to stay?” The brunette woman’s fading voice sounded as Mikasa watched the back of her ponytail bouncing with each step. “I mean I agree and all…”
“Fuck off, Hanji.”
As she overheard the last words of the conversation, Mikasa grinned to herself at the ultimate success of the haphazard plot to protect her own identity. However, any sense of satisfaction dissipated into thin air as she realized that her personal longing had now overflowed beyond any resistances. Whether their mutual movements stemmed out of violence or yearning, between Levi and herself existed a haunting synchrony that could not be replicated by any other. She could no longer deny that she wanted to seize unto the sordid past of this man – this sinister adversary of a man - to revel in his dangerous tendencies and never let go. Their vicious experiences had lacerated them both from the inside out, and the only solace to be recovered was somewhere within one another. In these past few days, she may have broken down his stoic walls brick-by-brick, but unbeknownst to others her own barrier was crumbling at the exact same pace.
Like a moth to a fatal flame, she was enticed by the beauty of what his movements and touches promised, yet in the most clandestine corners of Mikasa’s mind, the savage fantasy of this consummation of desires ended with thick liquid of furious crimson coating both of their naked forms. In all her previous visions, it was always Erwin’s blood upon solid ground, spilled by her merciless hands. But this time, Mikasa knew the substance saturating the caverns of her imagination was gushing from the crevices of her own skin.
Bloodlust. Levi’s voice vibrated against her eardrum as she beckoned each syllable from memory and reconstructed its meaning.
Lust that bears blood as consequence.
Source: http://fuku-shuu.tumblr.com/post/69069462314/fukushuu-chapter-iii
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