Following Him (Rivamika)

Chapter 38

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The night had fully came and most soldier's were off camp. Either enjoying their night away with the help of booze or visiting their love ones and staying the night to spend the next day with them completely. 

Those go guard duty got comfortable, ready to keep watch until their shift ends and they could return to their own beds for as long as they needed. Captain Hanji and Commander Erwin was no where in sights and Captain Mike had long since retired to his room to enjoy the peace and quiet. 

"Thank you, Mikasa. For finding me an way out of tonight, it's shame I'll skip having at least one drink with everyone but it's better than me waking up with an sore head and a lot of regrets" Armin spoke up with a bright smile and an thankful look in his eyes why he walked beside his friend. 

"Friends look out for each other and you did me more of a favour over helping to avoid the rest in the past seven days. Compared to the simply payment I've done tonight, I still own you some" Mikasa simply replied as she didn't need Armin gratitude after he helped her out more.  

"You don't owe me at all. I don't even want to know how you wiggled Captain Levi into helping me but you did and in my eyes, we're even" Armin grinned back, a little frightened over how she got the Captain himself to help but knowing he was better of living without ever knowing about the how. 

"You really won't be paid overtime for this" Mikasa warned with an frown as she knew Levi wasn't joked over that part. Armin would be stuck caring for all the drunken soldiers that shared his barracks without being paid for it. 

"I don't mind, I'd be helping my barracks friends one way or another once they returned drunk anyway. I'm just lucky enough to still be sober as I'll help them this time" Armin admitted with an giggly smile, hooking his arm with Mikasa as they slowly walked about, nodding to those on guard duty when passing them. 

"Your to nice for your own good sometimes, Armin" Mikasa sighed, a faint smile on her lips as she knew her friend was too much of an angel for his own good sometimes. 

"I think you must be looking at your own reflection, Mikasa" Armin announced without any embarrassment since he knew how nice she was too. Even if not all of the camp took notice, she did take good care over them all when she could. 

"It might not be booze but I'll be having a cup of tea with Levi, want to join us? You'll still be having that drink with comrades" Mikasa offered as she slowly down since the path would be splitting into three separate ways. One heading back to the barracks, one towards the centre of the camp. 

"With the captain .. like the real captain Levi?" Armin blurted out completely terrified for the next five minutes of his life. 

"Yes. We'll be drinking in the dinning hall since he's off duty like us and will be just sitting as Levi drinking tea instead of your captain" Mikasa explained, patting her friend hand that was resting on her arm from where  their arms were hooked. 

"I don't think  the captain had an lever that switched him from captain to his private self. He's always been both captain and someone who kept to himself" Armin mumbled back with a worried smile as he couldn't imagine the captain simply acting as a simple civilian.   

"Armin, he's not as scary as you may think. I know I might seem imitating to most but your still my friend and you see past my outer shell. Do the same for Levi, he's a pleasant man to drink tea with" Mikasa advised her friend since she knew how much of a scaredy-cat he could be but once he got use to someone he'd only feel silly over being so spooked by them. 

"My heart understands that but my brain can't. I'll still come with you to drink some tea before returning to my room to read" Armin admitted with a weak smile as he knew the captain was only human like them but his brain still saw the guy as humanity strongest and humanity scarcest.  

"Than let's go meet up with him. He headed back as soon as he passed on your orders directly after all" Mikasa muttered back, leading them both down the path that headed towards the dinning hall. 

"How did you get him to come to me directly?" Armin finally asked his question, letting his curious side take over. 

"Ah, can't answer that question otherwise everyone will be buying off Levi" Mikasa answered playfully and plus, she didn't want everyone to knew that Levi favourite tea was his weakness. So far, only she knew over such a fact and she'd keep it that way for as long as she can. 

"True but I don't think anyone else is brave enough to try bribing him off like you do. Well, a few stupid people might try it but they'd never get far" Armin commented with an amused look as Mikasa had to nod in agreement. 

The two soon reached the hall, slipping inside by opening one half of the door just a crack and pushing it closed. Levi already in the kitchen, waiting for the kettle to boil as he cut two tea cups ready. Mikasa nodding for Armin to take a seat at one of the benches close to the end and at the table closet to the kitchen door. 

Armin nodding back before watching her slip into the kitchen while he sat down. Clearly letting the captain know that he'd be joining them for a cuppa and needing another cup added to the tray. 

He felt a little nervous before relaxing a little once they came back and Levi placed the tray down on the edge of the table. Sitting down on the end opposite to the side Armin sat while Mikasa decided to stand at the end and pouring the boiled water into the teacups. 

"I have my tea black but I placed some milk in that cup for you to use" Levi spoke up as he took his tea cup from the tray before nodding at the wooden cup left on the tray that had a splash of fresh milk for Armin to use. 

"Oh um thank you, captain" Armin nervously replied as she shakily picked up his own tea cup, placing it in front of himself.

"You don't have to call him captain while we're off duty" Mikasa mumbled back as she passed the wooden cup with the milk to Armin who happily accepted it. 

"Yes he does" Levi argued back as he glared towards Armin in warning over losing formalities between them. 

"I'd rather call him as Captain too" Armin admitted in slight fear as he wasn't going to try and be casual with the captain.  

"We're off duty, you don't have to try and scare him anymore tonight" Mikasa sighed as she sat down beside Armin, trying to reassure her friend by sitting with him. 

"I'm still his captain. Once you gain the rank you never stop being it. If you're on duty or not, you're always your rank" Levi reminded her with an frown, picking up his cup and taking a slip. 

"But it's Armin" Mikasa argued back tiredly, turning her head to the blonde boy as if it proved her point on while Levi should be nicer. 

"And he'll stay addressing me as captain or sir. Right Arlert?" Levi huffed back, raising an eyebrow towards the blonde boy who fell pale. 

"Yes sir!" Armin yelled back as he stood up and saluted him. 

"You don't have to salute him at least" Mikasa frowned as she looked to her friend who started sitting down again. 

"But-" Armin started to cry back since he didn't want to get in trouble or punished by the captain. 

"Levi!" Mikasa snapped back, glaring towards the shorter man who rolled his eyes. 

"Arlert you don't have to salute me so much when we're off duty like this. It's too formal for moments like this. Let's simply enjoy our cups of tea's" Levi calmly replied as he looked to the blonde boy, giving his best comforting gaze. 

"Understood .. sir" Armin muttered back shakily before taking a sip of his tea. 

"Thank you" Mikasa whispered back towards Levi. 

"But it was funny to watch" Levi commented with a slight smirk, finding a bit enjoying to have the fresh cadets trained like loyal pups. 

"Don't be mean" Mikasa frowned before picking up her cup and taking a sip. 

"I've got to find my amusement somehow before they all start giving me trouble come morning" Levi argue back lightly as Mikasa just playfully rolled her eyes over it.