Family Ties(Erwin x Levi)

First Day of School

Footsteps thundered down the steps and a hand braced on the wall, giving Erwin enough momentum to turn the corner and head toward the kitchen and dining room. The hand came to his tie, which he fixed securely around his neck. Normally he wouldn't wear ties unless it was an important conference, lecture, or other meeting. Today was not just a normal day in the Ackerman-Smith house.

Levi's head turned and he poured tea into the second cup. He held it toward his husband then turned to face him, leaning back against the counter with his own cup in hand. He, too, was dressed nicely. He wore a grey button-down shirt and a casual black suit. Even though it was casual, he felt as if he needed to look nice today of all days. Tell him ten years ago he would be picking out something nice to wear to his daughter's first ever day of school and he probably would have stabbed the person in the hand.

"Thank you," Erwin said, leaning over to kiss Levi on the mouth before he turned to scan the counter. "Where's her—?"

"In the fridge. Remember, you said to keep it in the refrigerator until we left. And I signed on the second line of all those papers so she can hand her folder into the teacher when she gets there. We're set." Levi drank from his cup and lifted his chin over toward the table. "Breakfast good, kid?"

Mikasa looked up from her plate and Erwin was taken aback. It seemed only yesterday she was a little baby curled up into his arms. Now she was five years old and going to school for the first time; an actual school and not daycare where her teachers just so happened to be her pseudo-aunt and acquaintances. Her long hair was neatly parted, except for a short strand which nearly divided her forehead and ended at the bridge of her nose. Both Erwin and Levi had given up trying to style that little stray piece of hair. She wore a pale lilac dress and pink cardigan along with flat brown shoes. Around her neck, she wore the Ackerman pendant she'd received for her first birthday. Only in the past eight months had she been wearing it and she seemed to enjoy it. When she was nervous, it was something she played it but that was mostly when it came to big events or meeting new people. Now, however, she wasn't touching her necklace. On the other hand, she seemed perfectly content. Mikasa was a happy little girl, much as she had been when she'd been a baby. Her smiles were honest and heartfelt. By looking in her big grey eyes, one could tell when she was truly happy. Her smiles would light up her entire face. She would talk excitedly whenever someone mentioned something she liked and listen patiently when it was the other person's turn to share.

But, and this is what Erwin liked most about her, Mikasa wasn't afraid to stand up for herself when she didn't like something. She had a strong will; a will almost as strong as Levi's. Of course, Erwin knew there was his own influence in there somewhere but he always remarked how similar Mikasa and Levi were. Yes, they were closely related regardless, but Erwin often swore that his daughter had always meant to be Levi's in some way or another.

The little girl nodded her head in response to her father. She smiled one of her subdued, but also honest and true, smiles. "Yeah, Dad, it's really good!" Her little voice always held so much adoration whenever she spoke to her parents. She didn't seem bothered by Levi's vacant tone or his expressionless face. It wasn't always present but it was a staple of Levi and Mikasa didn't seem to be bothered by it. She always ended up getting a smile out of Levi at one point or another.

Erwin's long strides took him to the table rather quickly and he bent down to press a kiss to his daughter's cheek. "What did Dad make you?"

"Pancakes," Mikasa answered. Her feet excitedly swung forward then back under her chair where they fluttered a little. She pressed her hands into her lap and raised her shoulders toward her ears. "They're better than yours."

Pretending to look shocked, Erwin really dialed up the drama to get his daughter to laugh. "How dare you—" He jammed his fingers under her chin, eliciting peals of laughter from Mikasa. She squirmed back against her chair in an attempt to escape but she was met with more tickles.