A Rose In The Storm (Rivamika)

New Years 1938

(Play But Not For Me by Ella Fitzgerald at the designated point (for those of you who are saying 'you're reusing a song!!' yes, thank you for pointing that out, there's a point))

December 31, 1938

"But what is Dr. Hanji going to think when we can't bring anything," Sasha asked Levi as she shrugged her coat on.

"Tch, she won't think anything."  He pulled on his black coat and helped Mikasa with her grey one.

"Levi's bringing a cake," Eren pointed out.

Sasha huffed, "That's hardly helpful for a new years eve party."

Levi glared at Sasha who backed down a little bit and smiled sheepishly.

Levi motioned to the door, "Let's go."

Everyone headed out of the church, waving goodbye to the minister who was in his office with a friend, smiling and laughing as they waited for the new year to approach.

The snow was biting all of their skin but they walked forwards, knowing that it would only last until they reached Dr. Hanji's apartment.  Mikasa walked a little closer to Levi, hoping that maybe this would conserve a little bit of her heat.

"I haven't asked you lately, how are your classes going," Levi asked Mikasa.

"Well.  My classmates actually are starting to respect me a little bit more, one boy even asked if I needed to borrow his notes from that one day I was sick last month."  Mikasa smiled.

Two years into school and they were finally starting to not treat her as though she were some sort of alien in the classroom, she had proved herself to be the top of the class from the moment she had entered the room, and though this intimidated some of the boys, this caused quite a few of them to respect her.   

"I'm glad to hear that," Levi put his arm around Mikasa.

They reached the apartment and knocked on the door, all of them shivering and waiting for the door to open.  Dr. Hanji opened the door, a big smile on her face.  It was almost odd to see her this way, a dress on instead of her normal pant suit that she always wore to the university.

"Come in!" She exclaimed and ushered them all inside, taking their coats and taking the cake from Levi, while giving him a glare that said 'I told you not to bring anything'.  Levi glared right back and Hanji laughed knowing that he would never listen to her requests if he thought he knew better.

Happy music filled the apartment Eren walked to the living room which was through a small hallway, and Connie and Sasha followed, leaving Mikasa and Levi to speak for a moment.

"Jean?"  Mikasa asked.

Levi shrugged, "He's going to meet us later."

Mikasa nodded gravely, she still worried about him a lot, as did Levi however he and Jean were not on great terms at the moment.  Levi put his hand on Mikasas back and the two walked into the living room to find Connie, Sasha and Eren smiling and laughing, speaking with a blonde man who sat across from them.

"Levi, it's good to see you again," the blonde man stood up and towered over Levi, shaking his hand.

"You too Mike," Levi shook back.

Mike turned to Mikasa and shook her hand as well, smiling at her, "Nice to see you as well Mikasa."

"Likewise," She smiled and they all went back to sit down in the nicely lit living room, candles on the window sills and tinsel strung across the room.

Levi had met Mike a few years ago, when he and Mikasa had first started going out together Dr. Hanji had invited them over for dinner.  It had been an incredibly awkward meal, not that Hanji had noticed at all, however Mikasa and Levi had sat and not really known what to say.  Mike had only shook his head through out the meal, taking slight amusement out of these kids who were uncomfortable but Hanji not noticing, or caring.  He liked this Levi kid, he had a certain sass that was equal to Hanji's excitement, it was really very entertaining.