Complications Throughout Generations

Chapter 52

Mikasa's POV:

"Hey, honey." My mom said once I walked in the house. She was sitting on the couch with the remote in her hand as she flipped through the channels. "Anything fun happen today at school?" Once she settled on Chopped, she put the remote down and looked at me and patted a spot on the couch next to her. Before I had dropped my backpack on the ground, I took out the party invitation Historia gave me at the playground.

"I was invited to go to the Halloween party." I said quietly, handing her the paper.

"Were all your friends invited?" I nodded. "That's exciting! Have you figured out what the costume theme is for this year?"

"I think we're going with Scooby-Doo. I'm gonna be Velma."

"That's stupid." I roll my eyes, hearing the oh so charming voice of my twin brother.

"Levi, please." My mother said sweetly but authoritative. He opened the fridge and grabbed the container of pineapple that my mom cut up for him. Shockingly, he came over to us and sat on the couch.

"I could ask if you could come." I said with low expectations but seemed hopeful.

"Pass." He sticks his fork in a piece of pineapple and brings it to his mouth. He refuses to eat anything with his hands.

"Levi, don't you think it's time-" my mother began.

"No." But he quickly cut off and then continued to chew.

Levi hasn't left the house in almost 4 years. Obviously I know the reason why. Even if Eren could handle hearing my brother's name, I still wouldn't tell him. It's one of those things you keep within the family.

4 years ago, my father was taking Levi and his two best friends, Isabel and Furlan, home from soccer practice. Next thing you know, my mom turns on the news and that's how she found out there was a really bad car accident on the highway and only the one boy survived. Furlan and my father died on impact. Isabel was in the hospital along with Levi. We thought she had a higher chance of making it than he did. But after a week of overnight stays, Levi was released. Which gave him the chance to see Isabel one last time. As a kid, you don't really understand what's happening. Levi did though. He understood immediately that he was never getting his father and best friend back. But he had the smallest ounce of hope for Isabel. The last time he had seen her, my mom and I went in with him of course. She said, "love you big bro, I'll see you tomorrow." But there was no tomorrow, she had finally passed away 6 hours after we had left. Everything in Levi's world revolves around that. He doesn't want to be around people because he's afraid of getting attached. He's afraid of germs and getting dirty because he remembers all the blood. He doesn't leave the house or go in cars because he's afraid it'll be his turn to die. Levi even has a hard time with me and my mom leaving the house. It's a weird concept to grasp; he's afraid of being alone yet he shut the world out. It's pretty complex for a 10 year old.

I wish he would be more open to having friends. I would try and invite Eren and Armin to come over but for whatever reason, Levi's name is like death on Eren's ears. But I do secretly believe it may help Eren. It could be a massive piece of his memories. I like to imagine what the significance between the two of them could possibly be? From as far as my memory takes me, Levi was just a captain and we were just members of the 104th Training Corps. I also wondered if Levi was like me, Eren, Dr. Jaeger, and potentially Annie. I'd be too afraid to ask him truthfully.

But I'm feeling bold.

He was back in his room and I stood in front of it, practicing the way I was going to knock the door in my head.

"I can hear your heavy sighing, Mikasa." He said. "Come in." He was like a super human, I don't know how he knew when, me of all people, would be at the door. I guess your senses just enhance when you don't leave the house in forever. I slowly opened the door and closed it gently. "If you're going to ask me to go to the costume party, the answer is no." He was reading Order of the Phoenix. He was subtle with his generous acts. The second he saw me dressed as Harry Potter for Halloween last year, he took it upon himself to read the books so we can connect. He put the book down to his side and gave me his full attention.

"What if I invited my friends here?"

"Okay?" He knew where I was going with this but he played dumb so he could attempt to avoid the inevitable.

"I want you to meet them."

"No." He was quick to say.

"Why, Levi?" I sighed in disappointment.

"Because I can't." Although I took his issues into consideration, it didn't mean they weren't any less frustrating.

"Why not?"

"You know why."

"Levi, you're literally a kid. Stop acting like you're 70 years old, you'll get gray hair by the time you're 15! Just hear me out, okay?" He nodded. "They will come here. You won't have to leave. We can take it easy. How about the first time you meet them, that's all it'll be. Just a quick 'hello' and you can go back to your cave. Then we can see where it goes." I want to help him. I know I can.

He picked his book up again and opened it to his exact page. "Fine." He mumbled, not looking at me. I wish I could hug him but I respected his 'no touch' rule. The only person allowed was mom depending on the day. I walked out of his room with a giant smile and went back to my mother on the couch.

"Mom!" I whispered. "Levi said he'll meet my friends."

"Really?" She was shocked.

"Yes." I nodded.

He's going to meet Eren and Armin.