Humanity's Strongest(Rivamika)

Breaking Down

Mikasa wanted Eren and Armin to be by her side, immediately. Mei assured her that they were on the way, along with her warriors. She informed Mikasa that her people would be safe, so she could devote her time to the titan attack.
Before their arrival, Mikasa worried about what would happen to Levi. As Erwin's most capable soldier, surely he would placed at the forefront of the defense.
Finding Levi was not difficult. He was at the training grounds barking orders, "Oi, shitty brats, focus unless you want to be titan chow!" Upon seeing her, Levi's face softened fractionally before settling back into his usual apathetic expression. She saw it though and the corner of her mouth quirked up slightly in response.
"Can I talked to you for a moment?" she whispered. Levi frowned slightly. This was uncharacteristic behavior for Mikasa and it worried him. Nodding at her request, he caught the eye of the supervisor of the training grounds, then walked away with Mikasa trailing behind him. Her furrowed brow made it very clear that she was deadly serious about whatever she had to tell him.
Mikasa told him what Mei had said, omitting the part about Mei not being what she seemed. Levi stood still for a moment, digesting everything she had said. "Do you trust her?" he asked bluntly. Mikasa nodded without hesitating. Levi trusted Mikasa as a soldier. After the incident involving the female titan he had seen her work hard not to be swayed by her emotions. She was, quite honestly, the only soldier that could keep up with him.
He sighed internally. He didn't trust Mei, but he knew that ignoring her advice would not be wise. "Erwin needs to know," he muttered to himself. Before striding off, however, he gave Mikasa a reassuring kiss on her temple. It warmed Mikasa's insides but she could not help but feel despair, staring at Levi's retreating back.
That night, in the dining hall, Erwin made an announcement that a huge titan offensive was coming their way. He warned that many lives would be lost but the soldiers of the Survey Corps were nothing if not brave. When Erwin retired to his private quarters every member of the Corps stood in salute, dedicating their hearts and lives to humanity.
Mikasa was momentarily distracted as Mei plopped down next to her on the bench. Her face was grim. "They're here," she said without preamble. Mikasa was up and running. Arriving at the stables she grasped Eren's hands. "Was the trip alright?" Eren nodded, not saying much. In truth he was nervous. Mei had kept her men up to date with her carrier pigeons and they had passed the information along. Eren knew a heavy burden fell on his shoulders, just like the burdens Levi and Mikasa had to bear. Armin was pale, from a mixture of nervousness and fatigue. Mei's men had already gone off in search of her and she arrived shortly after, conversing quietly with them.
Mei glanced at Eren and Armin, "Commander Smith wants to see you." Eren and Armin immediately went off and Mikasa trailed behind. At Erwin's office they knocked and entered. Erwin was sitting at his desk and Levi and Hange were both present, Levi was leaning against the wall.
Erwin had already been informed and wanted Armin's input on how to best utilize Eren.
Armin was nervous but he knew he was right, "Eren's abilities are best when he has a clear objective in mind. It would be best for him to be at the front, that way if he goes rogue, he'll destroy titans, not soldiers." Mikasa was aghast but she trusted Armin. If Eren was going to be at the front, then she would be too. Erwin cleared his throat, "To help Eren, Levi and Mikasa will be with Eren." Mikasa felt slightly better at this. She could be there to protect both of them.
"Tomorrow, at dawn," Mei's voice made Mikasa jump a little. She had slipped into Erwin's office unnoticed by anyone. "At least, that's what latest intelligence has said," she seemed perfectly calm and nonchalant. "My men and I might as well be on the front lines as well," Mei said carelessly. She shot Mikasa a warning look, as if to say don't do anything stupid.
****
The next morning found Mikasa standing, fully alert and awake standing on top of Wall Maria. She was not sleepy despite the sun not having risen yet. Adrenaline was pumping through her veins despite her outwardly calm appearance. As the first rays of light brightened the horizon, Mikasa could clearly see the ground vibrating. As the vibrations came closer she could feel the very foundation of the wall beneath her feet humming.
She stood at Eren's left, Levi on the other side of him. Armin was farther in the middle of the groups of Scouts. His strategic ideas had him at Erwin's side to help plan battle tactics and maneuvers.
Mikasa could see the first wave of titans running towards them. No doubt they were attracted to the large group of very edible humans standing on top of the wall. Mikasa felt Mei walk up behind her. "This is just a test," Mei murmered, "After we take out these few, they will hit us in earnest. This is just to test how strong our defenses are."
Erwin's orders had been explicitly clear. Squad Levi and Mei's men were the only ones to engage in the first battle. He was keeping the rest if his soldiers in reserve for when the final attack came.
The titans were approaching closer and closer, the earth trembling. As the first few came into view, Mei was already launching herself from the wall, her blades cleaving down. Her men streamed out behind her, steam and sprays of blood filled the air. Levi cursed under his breath, "Let's move," he called out. Eren bit his hand and the telltale lightening appeared where a fifteen meter titan was now standing. The Rogue titan roared and lept into battle, ripping titans apart as he raged.
Sasha, Connie, Jean, and Historia quickly began pairing off and taking down the few stray titans that got past Mei or Eren. Levi soared around Eren's head, making sure the titans didn't overwhelm him.
At seeing two of the people she loved most in the world together Mikasa lept into the fray, blood spraying over her as she tried to cut down every titan that came into a ten foot radius of Eren and Levi. She quickly found that she was nearly outmatched, if not for Mei's recent training, she would have been overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Mikasa quickly lost track of how many she slew. A green blur in her peripheral vision, followed by a streak of red alerted her to Levi's prescense. Unbeknownst to her in her millisecond of distraction a titan hand reached out for her from behind. She heard Levi's agonized cry, "Mikasa, behind you!" She started to turn but knew that she would be too slow. But the sound of ringing steel flew by her ear as a young oriental man flew past, blades slicing through the titan's hand before swiftly slicing its name. Mikasa paused, she had never seen him before. She knew all of Mei's men by sight, who was this. She felt a pair of strong arms around her waist and Levi's deep voice, laced with concern permeated her ears. "Are you okay?" he murmured quietly. Mikasa felt herself nod, slightly shaken but alright. Levi left her with one last request before going to finish off the last few titans that remained from the first wave, "Don't make my worst nightmare come true, Mikasa."
Mikasa turned to look for the young man that had saved her life, but couldn't find him. Had she imagined him?