Microcosmos || Rivamika

Ch15 It's Always You

Summary: Following their escape, thick storm clouds loom above Mikasa and Levi as they seek safety in the old barracks by the abandoned airship hangar. All cards are on the table as their fears beg to be left behind at long last.

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Metal screeches echoed throughout the abandoned airship hangar as the tall rolling doors slid open, letting a hallowing breeze sing an eerie tune through the air. What once homed one of Marley's historic blimps was now completely barren — save for a few rusty panels from the ceiling that had fallen to the ground over the years it hadn't been in use, leaving open gaps in the tall ceiling. It was shabby and, if the two soldiers were brutally honest, a bit dangerous to be inside; though they couldn't complain. Over a hundred feet tall and stretching eight times its height in length, the shed had become an unexpected shelter for the depleted fugitives.

Levi led Mikasa inside as she hung a weak arm around his neck. The shut of the rolling doors behind them boomed within arched walls; it seemed any noise they made projected itself tenfold inside, and both soldiers remained tired and on edge in the rare silence.

Exhausted, they slid their backs against the wall as they plopped to the dirt at the same time, looking up the height of the ceiling. The tireless night was coming to an end at long last as layers of dark clouds still loomed above them through the holed roof, making the light of the moon shine in temporary waves.

"We made it," Levi huffed. He touched the back of his hand again to her forehead still breaking out in a cold sweat. Mikasa's shivers against his touch begged for his careful arm to wrap around her in response, squeezing to help warm her. Levi was depleted, cold, and his muscles burned, but that would never detract from his capacity to tend to Mikasa's weak state.

"Will we even make it back?" She said with closed eyes and a rough voice, as though simply speaking would exhaust what little strength she had left. "We only have two days to get to the port in ti—"

"Mikasa, we're gonna make it. You need to rest."

"How? How can I rest when I've failed, Levi? I failed." She clutched the fabric of his shirt with a tight grip, and Levi sensed the weight of those words had loomed over her for far longer than this moment. "I dragged you here with me to bring Eren back, and I couldn't even do that. I couldn't convince him."

"I told you already," Levi distanced himself for a second to look her in the eyes, eager to convince her she has done enough. "You haven't failed. There was nothing either of us could've done. Eren wouldn't have come back even if I forced him. I knew it from the beginning."

"Then why didn't you just order me to stop?"

"Are you kidding? If I had ordered you, you'd have been gone the next day. I know you."

She shuddered at that last part. Still, none of it sat well with her. Mikasa let a few moments of silence pass before speaking up again with narrowed eyes. "...Was it all a waste, then?"

"I don't think any of this was a waste, Mikasa."

A subtle blush tinged her cheeks as she read between the lines of his reassuring voice.

Levi cleared his throat and sighed. There were more words to say, but the passing time was vital for their recovery. He lifted a sleeve to carefully dab Mikasa's face and neck of sweat, as if tending to something precious to him. "Besides... Eren is strong. He's impulsive, but he's strong. And we'll just have to be prepared for whenever we see him next time. Til then, we just need to get back home." Levi tenderly pulled her forehead to his as they both closed their eyes. "So sleep, Mikasa. Please."