Just to check

Levihan 5

•

•

  It was chilly, that much could be said when Hanji woke up in the morning. Summer was finally releasing its grip on the earth and going to sleep, allowing fall to awaken and descend on them with drying, crinkling leaves and cold breezes. And lifting her blanket revealed that her monthly bleed had also decided to descend upon her last night.

  She blinked, considering her rampant emotions the night before, 'Well that explains not feeling well...' she shrugged, pawning everything else she had felt off on her unstable condition as well. Not exactly a wise decision, seeing as her hormonal change was not the cause.

  She changed accordingly, pulling her linens from her pack and gingerly wrapping them snug around her waist and between her thighs before she pulled her clean pants on. A task that proved to be two times as difficult with just one hand. She bundled up her stained sleep pants afterwards and tucked them in the space her linens had occupied. She'd have to ask Isabel for an extra pair of linens before the day was out, if it was like her usual flow.

  She slipped her jacket on and began packing her tent. Starting by rolling her bed roll up, which had thankfully escaped being stained during the night. By the time she was finished, Isabel and Farlan were done with theirs, and had come over to help her with her tent.

  "Thanks." she smiled warmly at them, giving Isabel a more pointed look and smiling brighter. She'd also have to apologize for being so short with her the night before. Isabel would definitely understand that she was emotional because of her bleed.

  "Feeling better this morning?" the woman in question asked cautiously.

  "For the most part." Hanji sighed, feeling her cramps start to come on.

  "Hungry?"

  Hanji nodded, "Very much so." she had skipped out on last night's dinner after all.

  "Farlan will pack your things on Chance." Isabel said pointedly to Farlan, indicating that she wanted to speak to Hanji alone. Hanji giggled quietly at the man's expression before Isabel linked their arms and led her over to the renewed fire, scooping out a few quail eggs they had likely found before she woke. "Anything you'd like to talk about?" she prodded carefully.

  Hanji saw right through her facade, she had obviously worried her the night before. "I'm okay, Isabel, really. I was just over-emotional and feeling ill because of my monthly." she explained frankly.

  "Oh...of course." Isabel chuckled knowingly, "I myself don't get very many symptoms during mine, but Mikasa sure as hell does. She's like a viper, can't go near her for days." she quipped, laughing heartily.

  Hanji laughed along with her, quite aware of how snappish and mean their symptoms could make them. "I know how she feels." she sighed, taking the tin plate that was offered and beginning to shovel the egg into her mouth ravenously.

  "Don't be a pig."

  Hanji nearly choked on her breakfast at the statement Levi made as he walked past. She cleared her throat and washed the mouthful down with water, sending a glare over her shoulder at the man. "Short-stack." she muttered under her breath in retort.

  "Hanji!" Isabel scolded half-heartedly in a whisper before she chortled, giving her a few light raps on the back while she laughed.

  "It's true!" Hanji grinned as she whispered back.

  "I know." Isabel sighed, taking a bite of her food. "I gotta hand it to you, you're rather bold around him when you want to be." she smiled.

  Hanji shrugged, "Not really." she muttered.

  "And...I've got to clear my conscience, you really aren't mad about the bath?" Isabel prodded once more.

  Hanji made to speak, but her own thoughts gave her pause. Was she upset? No...not over the bath at least. She was uncertain. Uncertain about how this man was starting to worm his way into her every thought. It was disconcerting, to say the least. But no, no she wasn't mad, despite how furious she may have been when it happened. She quickly came to realize that she wouldn't mind if it happened again.

  "No...I'm not." she murmured.

•

•

  Travel may have been fun in the beginning, but it was starting to morph into boredom for Hanji. Plus her aching abdomen wasn't helping matters much. She discreetly doubled over a couple times and huffed against Chance's neck during a few of her more painful cramps.

  "Shit...ugh..." she sighed as her most recent cramp passed, panting as she stroked Chance's mane. "Why'd it have to be bad this month?" she sat back with a pained groan, kneading her knuckles into her abdomen.

  Levi lifted his hand up ahead and they all halted their horses, probably a break for lunch.

  Hanji swung her leg over Chance's back...and flopped gracelessly onto her ass. "Damnit..." she hissed, waving away Farlan's helping hand when he rushed over to assist her, "It's okay, I just tripped." she said in dismissal.

  "You sure you're alright?" Farlan still hoisted her up by her arms and pat her on the back.

  "I'm fine, really." she offered him a smile and turned to her saddlebags to hide her embarrassment.

"If you say so." Farlan shrugged and moved to his own horse.

  "We'll break for a few minutes." Levi said from up ahead, and Hanji glanced at him tentatively as he began to head her way. He approached her nonchalantly, clearing his throat, "Hanji."

  She gulped and turned to face him, albeit not completely, her gaze was fixed on his shoulder. "Yes?"

  "Listen carefully, Ehrmich's Pass is up ahead." Levi turned and pointed, and her eyes followed his movement, "There's no snow this time of year, but it can still be deadly if you make noise. So, we'll walk our horses through, easier to keep them from spooking should we pass a snake or such, and we'll refrain from making loud noises. Understood?" he said, turning back to her.

  "Yes." she murmured, caught unprepared by his gaze. She hadn't meant to look at him, but now that she had she was somewhat entranced. It was but a moment, and his eyes were always so devoid of emotion...but she couldn't help but admire them for even just a second. They were different. Different from when she'd last looked at them, as if they had become more beautiful since then.

  Since when had she thought his eyes were beautiful?

  "Hopefully-" Levi turned away, speaking louder so his voice would carry and allow Isabel and Farlan to hear. Upon turning he broke the spell that had settled upon her, and she shook her head to snap herself out of it. "-we'll make it through before nightfall, otherwise we'll have to camp."

  Isabel groaned, "Oh God I hope we don't have to camp here again."

  Farlan exhaled loudly through his mouth and nodded.

  "Why? What's wrong with camping in the pass?" Hanji led Chance up to them with an inquisitive glance at Isabel.

  "It's just, you gotta be quiet-"

  "Heaven knows you two have no trouble being quiet." Levi said, back turned to them. "You were extremely quiet last night."

  "Oi!" Farlan chuckled.

  "Fuck off, Levi. That's not what I meant." Isabel scoffed, but her amusement was evident on her face.

  Hanji blinked, pursing her lips in confusion, "What does he mean?"

  "Nothing, don't worry about it." Farlan chuckled, likely at her naivety.

  "Anyway-" Isabel sighed, "-I meant to say that that's not the only issue. It's cold in the pass, and there aren't any trees around so campfires are next to impossible, then the bats like to hang around on the outcroppings we camp under and shit on us or our tents all night. It's not fun."

  Hanji nodded, bringing her hand to her lips thoughtfully, "Why not just bring some firewood into the pass with us? To solve the temperature problem. And then the light from the fire would keep the bats away?" she suggested.

  Isabel and Farlan glanced at one another in surprise. "I must say, Hanji, I never even thought of that." Farlan chuckled, and then he stooped to pick up a stick, waving at her with a pointed smile.

  Hanji smiled back bashfully, "I read it in a...book..." she quickly trailed off.

  "You can read?" Isabel questioned, intrigued.

  "I...a-well, the orphanage was...given books sometimes, so I learned how to read from the headmistress." she wove her lie carefully, having realized that being able to read was typically a noble's trait.

  Isabel raised her brows and nodded as she considered it, "That's good. I've heard it's hard to learn to read." she said, "Levi and Farlan learnt, but Mikasa and me didn't."

  "Do you want me to teach the two of you?" Hanji asked, and Isabel's face twisted with excitement.

  "You'd do that?"

  Hanji shrugged, "Winter will be here soon I expect, and with my broken arm...it will give me something productive to do." she smiled warmly.

  Isabel walked closer and gave her a hug, laughing ecstatically. "You're amazing." she sighed, pulling back to return to her horse's side.

  Hanji gave her own sigh at the warmth budding within her chest. It felt good to be of some use, and to feel like part of a family again, however small it may be. She moved to mount Chance, then remembered they were meant to be walking. She groaned and pressed her forehead into the gelding's side. Her monthly hadn't let up, even with her distraction.

  "Let's go." Levi called.

  'Oh I'm gonna kill him.'

•

•

  "She lied again."

  Farlan turned to Levi incredulously, "You're still on about that?" he asked.

  Levi blinked at him, "Have I ever been wrong before, Farlan?"

  "I still think you're looking for things that aren't there, and seeing them because you want to." Farlan sighed, looking at Hanji walking behind them.

  "It was about where she learned to read..." Levi continued on.

  "Oh come on now!" Farlan groaned.

  "What's all the fuss about?" Isabel called up to them.

  "Nothing, love." Farlan called back, "Just stubbed my toe."

  "Clumsy oaf!" Isabel retorted teasingly.

  Levi closed his eyes briefly and inhaled deeply to clear his head....oh who was he kidding! To keep his cool around that annoyingly incessant flirting! And to think he had been relieved over the two of them finally sorting things out.

  His thoughts went back to Hanji. More and more of her story was starting to add up against her. More and more little white lies over time. Isabel and Farlan were to dense to see it. Too convinced by an innocent face. Granted, the girl was either a good actress, or truly innocent of his internal accusations. Because he was sometimes fooled by her ridiculously big, brown, doe eyes.

  He cleared his throat at that thought. What a stupid notion. He even gave a scoff, to think that he would find her eyes to be cute...pretty...maybe attractive. It was out of the question.

  As if to prove his own point to himself, he glanced over his shoulder, catching her eye. She blinked at having been caught watching, and her cheeks bloomed with pink. He turned away, gaze falling back to the gravelly canyon floor. He was late in turning, and the image was now stuck in a loop within his mind's eye.

  'Her eyes aren't pretty.'

  He wasn't even convinced by his own thoughts.

•

•

  "Oh God..." Hanji winced as she sat down, they were finally stopping, a few minutes after sunset, as they had been so close to the end of the pass. It wasn't worth staying in it to wait until morning when they were practically already there.

  It had been a long walk, hours long, and it was coupled with her monthly. Hanji just wanted to lay down on her stomach, prop her sore feet up on a soft, feathery pillow, and sleep for days. But of course, that was impossible. So she resolved to her less comfortable fate and stretched out on her stomach against the bedroll in her tent. Her sore, aching muscles practically cried out with relief, and she groaned as she relaxed.

  "Hanji? We'll have supper soon." Isabel peeked in to tell her.

  "Be-there....in-a-minute..." Hanji moaned against her bedroll, voice muffled near to the point of indiscernible.

  "Need a tonic?" Isabel chuckled.

  "That sounds heavenly." Hanji struggled to sit up, and she was met with a black flask thrust into her face. "What is it?" she asked as she took a swig...and promptly coughed, sputtering the drink all over her lap, throat burning.

  "And they always do that." Isabel laughed, "Sip it, it's whiskey."

  "Whiskey?!" Hanji squawked.

  "Oh hush, you're a big girl, little bit of drink won't hurt. Might get you tipsy, but it'll also take the edge off." Isabel shrugged.

  "But I thought you had a real tonic!" Hanji cried, aghast.

  "It is a real tonic!" Isabel countered.

  "No it's not!" Hanji said, starting to smile when she sensed this was turning playful.

  "Yes. Yes in fact it very much is, a real tonic that is." Isabel thrust it into her hands again.

  "Isabel..."

  Both women jumped and turned to the raven-haired man holding the tent flap open, "She doesn't need to drink that."

  Hanji pursed her lips in a triumphant smirk and turned to Isabel, who scoffed, "But it's only for her womanly issues. Besides, what would you know of it?"

  Levi stepped inside and took the flask from Hanji's hand. She focused on the soft brush of his fingers against hers. Simply marveling at how it sent a warm shiver up her arm. "I know enough. And I know you get moody when you drink on your monthly. We don't need two bitchy, whining women in the camp tonight."

  And Hanji's annoyance towards him came rushing back with a vengeance.

  "But I'm not even on my monthly!"

  "Still applies."

  "Oh and I thought you actually cared..." Hanji drawled, rolling her eyes and catching his attention.

  Levi turned to her with a raised brow, "I suppose it wouldn't make much of a difference, whether or not you did take it..."

  Isabel bit her lip and winced, and tensed when Hanji shot to her feet.

  "That's it. That's it!" she laughed mirthlessly, pressing her fingers to her forehead and gritting her teeth before she turned on Levi, "I'm sick and tired of your insults...your-your blatant disregard for the fact that I might actually have feelings!" she snapped, "Don't you fucking dare roll your eyes at me, short-stack!" she pointed a quivering finger directly between his eyes, nearly touching him.

  The motion she had reprimanded paused, and Isabel whistled loudly in a vain attempt to lighten the mood.

  Levi's eyes narrowed, "And I-"

  "-have absolutely no respect for anyone except yourself!" Hanji interrupted, eliciting a raised brow from him and an agape jaw from Isabel, "You...you call me names, you hardly consider me to be human, you invaded my privacy! Forcing a bath on me like that!" she accused, poking her finger against his chest.

  "But you said you weren't mad about-" Isabel began.

  "Not now, Isabel! I'm yelling." Hanji rounded on her briefly.

  Isabel closed her mouth audibly.

  Hanji turned to a bored, unimpressed Levi and took in a deep breath. "See! See, there you go again!" she pointed at his face, "You annoy the living hell out of me. You sit on this fucking high horse and act like you know all and everyone else is hardly worth your time! You treat me like a mangy dog sometimes."

  "That's hardly true." he responded, finally.

  "It is to me..." she murmured. "What else was I supposed to think of your opinion of me when you took me to that stream the other day?"

  His brows twisted together, "What on earth are you talking about?"

  "Just..." she bit her quivering lip to silence herself, holding a her hand up and closing her watery eyes. "Just go away, and leave me the fuck alone. Just don't talk to me." she turned away from him and sat down, burying her face in her knees and quietly sobbing. Isabel went to comfort her, but the girl held a hand up, "Both of you...please."

  "Hanji-"

  "Best respect it, Isabel." Farlan had suddenly appeared, having nudged Levi aside and reached in to grasp her arm.

  "But Farlan-"

  "Just let her be for a bit." Farlan tugged her away, along with Levi.

  "Oi!" the man in question protested.

  "You and I might need to chat." Farlan gave him a pointed look of disapproval.

  "I didn't even do anything." Levi scoffed, crossing his arms.

  "Isabel, give her her food in a moment, then just let her sort herself out for the night. She'll come to you for comfort tomorrow, most likely." he instructed his shaken wife.

  "Alright." Isabel sighed.

  "As for you, Levi-" Farlan gestured for the shorter man to follow him.

  Levi rolled his eyes and followed his brother-in-law, mumbling to himself all the way. "And what, pray tell, do you need to talk to me about?" he asked.

  Farlan leant against a large boulder, patting the rock beside him, "Why don't you sit first?" he said.

  Levi gave a sigh and copied Farlan, pulling one knee up to prop his elbow upon. "Well?" he prodded.

  "I just need to say, I think you need to tone it down around Hanji." Farlan crossed his arms and leant back, glancing up at the sky.

  Levi raised a brow, "Tone it down?"

  "I know you're as dense as you are short-"

  "Hanji is rubbing off on you."

  "-but, I honestly don't know how it could be more obvious." Farlan chuckled.

  "Stop being cryptic and get to the point." Levi's voice was as close as it would probably ever be to a snarl.

  "Oh no, I can't spoil it for you. Best if you figure it out yourself." Farlan held up his hands, "Point being, you are never this rude to people, despite their shortcomings."

  "I'm not being rude to her!" Levi threw his arms up in exasperation.

  "From your point of view, perhaps." Farlan corrected with a flat look. "What you said in that tent was rude, even for you. And she's younger than you, she doesn't know to take harsh words in stride." he explained. "And she's on her bleed. You know how emotional women get."

  Levi did know, Isabel was rather passive, but Mikasa was a living nightmare when she wanted to be. He had learned to curb his tongue during her monthly. But as for Hanji....

  He crossed his arms and nodded in consideration, "Alright, and what do you suggest I do?"

  "Apologize."

  "Fuck no." Levi scoffed.

  "Apologize." Farlan repeated, "And then give her space for a week or two. You'll see what I was talking about soon enough." he cleared his throat, "And be nice. It'll make a world of difference."

  Levi gave him a glare, his eyes alone speaking volumes as to his loathing for Farlan's suggestion.

  "Your relationship won't improve without effort, you know." Farlan said.

  "What relationship? There is literally nothing between us." Levi retorted, turning away from his friend.

  "I didn't mean like that." Farlan fibbed, smirking slyly. What an oblivious idiot Levi was sometimes. It boggled his mind how a wise person could be so stupid when it came to situations like this. "Just try it. It will coax her into being 'nicer' to you." he added.

  Levi looked over his shoulder, not exactly at him, but in his general direction, "I'll think about it." he said, "For now, I'll just give her space." he pushed off from the rock and headed towards the campfire.

  "Stubborn ass." Farlan chuckled to himself, following shortly behind him.

•

•

  When Hanji awoke the next morning she immediately pressed her face against her bedroll and muffled a frustrated yell. She could not believe she had lost her cool the night before. Not that it mattered very much to her that she blew her top at Levi, he needed to be put in his place. No, she was upset over the fact that she had been snappish to Isabel again. The woman was only trying to help. But Hanji couldn't seem to keep her temper in check around that man.

  And she was horribly embarrassed at her own actions. She didn't know how she was going to look any of them in the eye that morning. She got to her feet and grabbed a fresh linen she had swiped from Isabel before her outburst last night. She swapped them out, glancing at the tent's entrance every now and again to be sure she wasn't being watched. Having done it once already with one hand, it was a bit easier to change it today.

  Upon finishing she balled up the soiled linen and pulled her pants back on. She stuffed the used linen back into her pack and peered outside, stepping out hesitantly when she saw no one. She sat on the log by the fire, hugging herself and watching the glowing embers slowly die out, one by one. She must have fallen asleep earlier than she realized, as the sun had yet to breach the horizon, and dew still hung heavy on the greenery around camp.

  At least she was on her own for a little while. She could collect her thoughts and rehearse her apology to Isabel. Poor thing, she knew she had a temper, and she wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of it. If only Levi wasn't so damn irritating! And it didn't help that despite her apparent loathing for the man, he was also starting to make her heart ache with longing. Nothing could ever out-place this feeling, when it came to the unpleasantness of it.

  "You're up early."

  She stiffened at the sound of his monotonous voice, glancing over the campfire to see him leaning against a tree on the opposite side of camp. "I could say the same for you." she said, tone even and steady.

  "I'm on watch." he explained simply, pushing off from the tree and sitting across from her next to the dying fire.

  She hummed in acknowledgment and held her chilling fingers out to the warmth of the coals. He had a habit of doing that, didn't he? Just appearing before her out of the blue. Though, on the plus side, he didn't seem fazed by her presence at all. Obviously, her outburst had no effect on him the night before.

  'Figures.' she sighed to herself.

  Of course it didn't. Because he didn't care...he probably hasn't ever cared, since the moment she arrived in the camp. Why did that thought make her chest ache?

  "Apparently-" he suddenly began, catching her attention, "-according to Farlan, I'm an ass and I owe you an apology." his chin was propped against his fist, and his free hand was poking at the fire with a long stick.

  "What?" she mumbled.

  "While I would argue and say you were out of line as well, careful consideration also leads me to understand that it was wrong of me to insult you like that." he continued, glancing up at her to observe her reaction, most likely.

  She opened and closed her mouth like a fish, at a total loss for words, she could only stare at him in return. He raised a brow, as if expecting something in return from her. And he was right, she did speak out of turn the night before.

  'Not as badly as he did...' she assured herself in her head.

  "I...well, thank you. For apologizing. At least, as much as I could expect you to." she added with a brief chuckle, "And, I'm sorry for...you know." she blushed, retreating beneath the curtain of her loose hair, "I didn't mean it...with the bath. I actually kind of appreciated it." she tweaked the fabric of her pants with her good hand, glancing up at him through her lashes.

  Levi gave a single nod, "Good, and I suppose I'll give you a forewarning, you're getting another bath when we get home."

  She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, before letting out a bark of a laugh and nodding, "I guess I could expect no less." she sighed, a few more giggles escaping her lips.

  He stood and looked towards the horizon, estimating the time, "I'm going to wake Farlan and Isabel. Best pack up, we head out in an hour."

  She watched him walk off, her mind slowly registering what had just happened. No insults on either of their behalves, no yelling or irritation. They actually sat down like adults and had a decent, enjoyable conversation. And...he apologized. He actually apologized. She doesn't know if that should result in a feeling of triumph or happiness on her part. But it doesn't feel like either of those emotions.

  She feels that same warmth she felt yesterday in her chest, but it's deeper, more intense. Warmth flooding her every vein and causing her cheeks to bloom with color. If she had to name it...she wouldn't, because that isn't a word she feels comfortable applying to him. So she'll cut corners and say it's relief. Despite how big of a lie that is.

•

•

  They found the tiniest trickle of a stream, two days down the line. It was nowhere near big enough for bathing, but just enough to water both them and the horses. They were close to their final destination now, and would arrive any day now. Hanji cupped some of the cold water and rubbed into the nape of her neck, sighing as it chased away the intense heat of the day. Summer had been promising to recede for the past week, but had also decided to leave them with a parting gift.

  Isabel smiled at her from her seat atop her horse, "Almost home." she sighed, slouching dreamily, "I can't wait until we get there. It's so very lovely, Hanji."

  "Why would you want to leave it, then?" Hanji asked, patting Chance on the snout.

  Isabel tilted her head curiously, "What do you mean?"

  "You keep talking about saving enough money to have your own land..." Hanji supplied.

  "Oh!" Isabel chuckled, "No, I guess you misunderstood. We don't own the land we're on, but we are going to buy it from the Lord who owns it. We made the deal about five years back. In exchange for our yearly payments he allows our sister to live there. This might be our last payment. And then we'll own the land." she explained.

  "Oh, I see." Hanji mulled that new information over in her head.

  "I've just been bemoaning it all this time because we only have the rights for Mikasa to be there. We can't build a home of our own yet, Farlan, Levi and I." Isabel pressed her forehead against her steed's neck and sighed, "But still!" she shot straight up again and startled both Hanji and Chance, "He's a rather easygoing Lord. And very generous to even consider letting us give payment over time. Most Lords would turn you away if you didn't pay upfront." she explained.

  "Is that so?" Hanji bit her lip and mounted her horse. She knew that well enough, and had been witness to many a poor peasant being turned away by her father out of lack of money.

  "Yeah, perhaps you'll meet him. He should come by a few weeks from now to collect." Isabel nudged her heels against her mare's flank and turned the steed to where Farlan and Levi were waiting.

  "That'd be nice." Hanji said, internally conflicted...would a Lord recognize her this far away from Macedonia?

  "Finally ready?" Farlan asked, urging his horse into a walk.

  "Oi! Misty was thirsty." Isabel gestured to the mare she was riding, "And we were filling up your canteens. You're welcome." Isabel chastised sarcastically, tossing his canteen at him.

  Farlan fumbled momentarily, but caught the canteen with a laugh, "Thanks, Isy." he said.

  "Won't be doing it again." she said with a snobby up-tilt of her head.

  Levi scoffed and pressed his horse a little harder, riding ahead, and Farlan took up the rear. Isabel and Hanji ride side by side in the middle, as they usually did. The ride was long, as per the norm, and they were all yawning by the time the sun was nearing the horizon. And when I say all, that excludes Levi. But the quad had yet to stop, as Levi hadn't signaled for them to. So they continued on for more than an hour after sunset.

  "Why aren't we stopping?" Hanji asked Isabel, who was brimming with excitement.

  "Because we're close, of course!" she clasped her hands together and sighed, "Almost there!" she squealed to herself.

  Hanji chuckled and looked up at the sky, marveling at how bright the stars were without a campfire to dull them. In fact, the sky was bright enough that the meadow their horses trudged through was bathed in a sheen of blue. It was truly gorgeous. She could only imagine how lovely this land was during the early morning hours, if it was so beautiful by night.

  Isabel's horse broke into a gallop, and Hanji was startled out of her stargazing as she sped away. She was followed by a laughing Farlan, and Hanji gave Chance a light kick to catch up with Levi. Whom had only spurred his horse into a light canter. The redhead's destination was soon clear. A moderately large log cabin was sitting just around the cusp of trees ahead. And a lake sat only so many meters away from it, glistening in the moonlight and reflecting the constellations.

  Hanji came to a slow stop by the now-riderless horses and watched as Isabel knocked at the door. Levi dismounted, and she followed his lead, tying Chance's reins to the post built there for that very purpose.

  "Isabel!" a soft voice exclaimed upon the opening of the door. And Hanji's lips twisted into a smile at the sight of the raven-haired girl tackling Isabel with a hug. She observed with interest how remarkably similar the girl was to Levi in terms of features. Although her eyes were slightly more slanted. In terms of height, she was rivaling Isabel, and her hair trailed down her back in a long, thick braid.

  "I've missed you so, so much!" Isabel chuckled, pulling back from her hug and holding Mikasa at arms length, "Look how tall you are! You're gonna pass me up soon." she pat her sister on the head, leaning in to place a kiss on her forehead.

  Mikasa giggled and turned to Farlan for his offered hug, "It's so good to see you, Uncle." she said as he pulled away.

  "Likewise." Farlan said with a smile.

  "And Levi!" Mikasa leapt at her older brother and nearly made him fall over with the force of her assault.

  "Damnit, Mikasa." Levi gave the lightest hum of a laugh, "You've been working on your strength, haven't you?"

  Mikasa pulled back with a nod, "Yep! I work on it every day."

  "Beat Jaeger up every time, no doubt." Levi smirked.

  "Oh Levi." Mikasa socked him in the shoulder, "As a matter of fact, I...do...who's this?" the girl had noticed Hanji, and she stepped around her brother to eye her curiously.

  "Hanji." the woman in question held out her good hand to greet the younger girl.

  Mikasa shook it, tilting her head to the side curiously, "Nice to meet you. But I must say, they've never brought someone home before." she ducked her head sheepishly, "I wasn't prepared for company." she gestured to her sleep-gown.

  Hanji laughed, kneeling to hoist her pack over her shoulder, "I don't mind." she said as she followed the girl inside, "I expect I'll get used to seeing most everybody in their sleepwear anyways."

  Mikasa smiled, "I like you." she said, leading Hanji along while the rest of their group gathered in the living room. "You've got a very inviting, positive presence."

  Hanji returned her smile, "Why thank you." Mikasa gave a nod before heading down the hall and leaving Hanji to observe the house.

  Upon entering one would be greeted by a few seats and a fireplace in the wall on the left. And on the right was a cooking oven and a pump-fed sink, along with a few cupboards and a table with wooden chairs to sit upon. Then there was a hall, down the very middle of the wall on the far side of the cabin. Down which were three rooms, and then there was a staircase that led up to a second floor. Perhaps a loft. Overall, it wasn't too big, but not too small, a very cozy, warm cabin. It made Hanji feel at home immediately.

  Granted she didn't know her way around, or where she was meant to sleep, so she simply stood there where Mikasa left her. She glanced at Isabel and Farlan, whom were lounging on the couch and didn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. Then she turned to the kitchen and found no one there. But Levi was entering a room down the corridor, so she followed him.

  "Hey Levi-" she cut herself off with an inward groan of annoyance at her inability to assess a situation.

  Levi paused, his hands still in the sleeves of his shirt, and raised a brow at her in expectation, "Yes?"

  Hanji gulped, willing her eyes to stay focused on his, "I-um, was just wondering where I should sleep?" she was losing the battle to keep her gaze where it should be, so she directed it to the floor and scuffed the toe of her boot along the wooden board there.

  "I'd say one of the rooms upstairs, but I don't really care. You should ask Mikasa." he folded his shirt and moved to the door. She let forth a noise of protest when he pressed one hand to her sternum and pushed her out, surprisingly gentle. "If you'll excuse me..." he implied as he closed the door.

  "Right." she blushed and turned on her heel to find Mikasa, glancing into the room she had entered moments before. She jumped at the sight of another young teenager, about the same age as Mikasa.

  "Oh Hanji! Meet Armin. We met in the orphanage. He came to live with us after his grandpa passed on." she explained, gesturing to the most-obviously shy blonde sitting across from her on one of the two beds in the room.

  "Hello." the boy greeted, waving a hand hesitantly. He was short, not as short as Levi, but still. And his face was almost baby-ish, what with his button nose and rounded features. His figure was rather scrawny, like he had never really filled out. And his hair was long enough to be pulled back into a tiny ponytail, though some of the shorter strands framed his face. If Hanji had to describe him in one word, she would say he was adorable.

  "Hello there, Armin." she greeted warmly, taking a step into the room.

  "Mikasa's already told me your name." he smiled, shaking her offered hand.

  "Well alrighty then." Hanji chuckled. "Erm, Mikasa, Levi said I should ask you about where to sleep." she turned to the girl as she spoke.

  Mikasa stood, "Right, we have a couple rooms upstairs, and there's the loft..." she took Hanji's good hand and led her out of the room, heading up the short staircase and across the loft, which overlooked the living room. It had a bed-like couch and a fur rug on the floor, a railing lining the floor so one wouldn't fall over the edge. The two bedrooms Mikasa had spoken of were on the left wall, and she opened the door to one of them.

  "The other one is Isabel and Farlan's." Mikasa explained as she scrambled to light a match and the lamp in the room. "But this one is almost always unused...I mean, Eren uses it when he visits, but I can have him stay with Armin and me." she explained as she gestured for Hanji to enter.

  "So are you and Armin..." Hanji asked, placing her pack down and turning to her with a pointed look, "You know?"

  Mikasa paused, taking in her implication, and then barking out a laugh, "Oh no! No, he's like a brother to me." she chuckled. "What gave you that impression?"

  Hanji shrugged, "I just assumed, cause you share a room." she mumbled.

  "Well, as cute as he is, I'm afraid Armin and I are very much platonic." Mikasa sighed mirthfully.

  "I see, sorry for assuming." Hanji glanced around at the room now, observing the moderately-sized bed and the dresser beside it, along with the curtained window that viewed the lake.

  "It's no problem. I've had soup cooking since early this morning, if you'd like some after you've unpacked." Mikasa said as she headed out, "I would presume you're hungry after such a long day." she added on her way down the stairs.

  Hanji nodded despite the girl having gone. She took a turn on her heel and sighed at the warm homeliness of the room. She sat upon the bed and smoothed out the cotton of the blanket, smiling softly. She could easily get used to living here.