Following Him (Rivamika)

Chapter 9

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Side Note: I did upload chapter 8 before this one. I'll try updating sooner than later for the next chapter but no promises. 

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"She needs a friend" Hanji simply stated from where she sat on one of Erwin fancy sofas in his office, Mike sitting beside her and giving a nod of agreement.

"She has Moblit and Nanaba, they're like the strange cousins no one asked for in their life. Isn't that good enough and anyway, she hangs with Mike during his morning patrols. She's not that closed off" Levi argued back from where he sat on the fancy sofa opposite to the one Hanji and Mike sat on, a nice wooden coffee table between them while Erwin sat behind his desk. 

"She's right Levi, Mikasa needs friends close to her age and that aren't linked to us. We're all soldiers, we may speak with Mikasa and keep an eye out for her but we won't ever be real friends that she needs. We're already friends and she just been pulled along to join our group" Erwin sighed, leaning forward in his chair as he laced his hands together on his desk.

"And how do you expect me to find her a friend who's not a soldier on the camp and close to her age. She's twelve years old, any other child her age will either be joining up or deciding not to live the life of a soldier. Plus, she's not like most children. Don't forget how much of an asshole a child can be to those who are different. Letting Mikasa hang with children close to her age that either want the glory life of a soldier or the peaceful life inside the walls isn't a good match for Mikasa. She'll be the odd one out and we don't know what could set her off for a bad day, Doctor Yeager even warned us that she could have a relapse from the smallest of things" Levi replied back sternly, his arms crossed as he leaned back on the sofa little and glaring at the coffee table.

"We can't just keep her locked away on the camp either, she needs friends. She needs to live her own life freely and learn how to act in public. She's missed out of so much already and already suffered enough, we need to give her the chance to grab at a normal life if she wants it. But keeping her huddled to soldiers you can trust for now and stuck on this camp won't help her" Erwin commented with a frown as he looked towards Levi who's frown deepened. 

"I'm not keeping her here, she could have left to live with doctor Yeager at any given moment but she chose to stay. She doesn't want to be seen as a freak or pitied, she wants to be seen as herself and we give her that. Can you promise me that a child would do the same?" Levi snapped back as he glared towards Erwin who let out a heavy breath.

"No, I can't. It's true that Mikasa is rather grown up for her age and she's faced a harsh life already. Children wouldn't understand that and might not accept her either but we must try to give her a bit of the normal life. I already talked to doctor Yeager since we'll need an adult to care for Mikasa when we go on an expedition in a couple weeks. He and his wife is happy to take her in, his wife Carla even mentioned that Mikasa could visit her son who just joined up. An old friend is the training corps, he's even willing to let Mikasa join for an hour or two, as long as she can keep up, that is" Erwin spoke in a low voice, he knew he went behind Levi back over the matter concerning Mikasa but it was something that needed to be done when Levi wasn't pushing for Mikasa to try and stand against the world again. 

"Keith Sadies, he's the head commander of the soon to be 104th corps that start in a couple weeks. I already know about him, Doctor Yeager mentioned over maybe letting Mikasa join up either this year or next depending how well her recovery is going. He thought the life of a soldier might help her live her own life, she'll be able to learn how to fight, let her anger or built rage out. She'll be given a barrack to live in, at least two meals a day and clothes on her back. She'll be stuck as a soldier but at least she'll have a meaning in life, even if its just following someone else's orders until she dies. I thought about it and I talked to Mikasa about it, we both agreed she's not ready to sign up this year since she still .. caution over a lot of things and that's to be expected. But I still left the camp with Mikasa to meet with commander Sadies, we talked to him in person and his will power to treat any cadet as dirt on his shoe seemed like a helpful fact over Mikasa not having to worry over being different. She'll at least be seen as an equal to Keith and he won't give a shit over her past or issues" Levi replied calmly as he glanced to the side while he felt the other three sets of eyes fall to him surprise.

"You looked into Mikasa future already, with her consent!" Hanji squeaked out not believing what she just heard.

"Of course I did, I'm not a complete asshole to steal a child life from her. I knew she couldn't be stuck with us forever but she's not ready, it's only been two fucking weeks since we took her from that hell hole. Oh, and don't forget that while she still in her weakened state that any MP soldier or old customer that still lust after her can just easily take her again. She won't be safe alone outside, not when there's still other's hunting her down and willing to steal her away all over again. Mikasa won't survive that life a second time, that's why she isn't ready to sign up in the training corps or to head out of the camp alone. She at least feels safe in the camp, she won't go near anyone outside of this room but she's at least able to hang with us now and with your two squads members. I even talked with Doctor Yeager over living arrangements during our expedition"

"You did!" Erwin perked up as he looked towards Levi in shock, a little proud over how ahead he was then what they thought before hand. Even Mike was looking to Levi like he was a stranger sitting before them.

"I did, Mikasa refuses to live with them even for a couple days. But, she agree to spend the whole day with them before heading back to sleep here. She's take the camp cart to the nearest village where doctor Yeager or Carla will be waiting for her. It's all planned out. She's still young, she doesn't have to rush into living her future just yet. She's missed three years of her childhood already, I won't rush her to miss any other part of her life just to hurry up and be an adult. She's already grown up enough to know the truth to life, she's accepted how cruel it can be. Why can't be try and give her some beauty of the world instead" Levi muttered back as he crossed one leg over the other, acting rather calm while the rest just stared at him. 

"What?" Levi asked as he raised a questioning eyebrow towards the other.

"When did you all do this?" Mike just asked as he silently judged Levi. 

"A letter was invented for a reason. Plus, Mikasa may not speak right now but she can write. It wasn't hard for her to communicate with us in other ways. Anyway, what's with you three suddenly want to get involve with her life? I know a camp isn't a place for a child but it's the place for Mikasa, she can be herself, find herself and not fear of being rejected because she's met all you fucks ups and we keep you here" Levi mumbled back as he uncrossed his arms, letting them fall to his side as he glanced to the other three who kept silent.  

"Next time you think over Mikasa future, over how she should be living her life. Speak with her not me, I'm not her parent or a sibling to her. I'm just someone who's accepted her as she is and won't make her feel weaker then she already dose. But Mikasa not as weak as she might think, she can handle these chats herself. See what she wants instead of deciding for her" Levi advised as he pushed himself to stand before walking towards the door.