AoT Take Care Of Her Mike x Reader x Levi Part 10

“What is is Sir?” You asked, trying to keep the rising fear out of your voice as a stern faced Erwin approached you.
“Sit down f/n.” He said neutrally.
You swallowed hard and hoped you weren’t shaking, although you certainly felt like you were.
Erwin sat in the seat on the other side of your desk that you reserved for visitors and clasped his hands together leaning on your desk.
‘Damnit, if you’re going to give me hell over Hitch just get on with it already!’
“Listen f/n, I know you’re going through a hard time at the moment.” He began, making you feel even more nervous than you already were.
“However I feel I should be the one to tell you this before you hear it from someone else.”
Now you did begin to tremble, you could feel Erwin’s icy blue eyed gaze upon you. If he stared at you any more intensely you would probably pass out.
Erwin drew a breath and stared into your e/c eyes.
“I’ve reassigned Mike’s office.”
A wave of relief washed over you like a tsunami, did this mean he had no idea about your punch up with Hitch?
“I had a feeling you would Sir, I didn’t expect it to stay empty forever.” You replied quietly. You knew it would happen eventually but it still stung your heart. That old office held so many happy memories of your time with Mike, your heart ached in your chest. This was the final nail in the coffin so to speak, the confirmation that Mike really was never coming back.
“I was thinking of re-assigning it to you at first, so you could feel closer to Mike...but Hanji seemed to think it would be a rather cruel reminder of your past with him.”
You lowered your head, feeling the tears flow down your cheeks before they even had a chance to sting your eyes.
“I’m very sorry f/n.” Said Erwin gently.
“I knew it would happen eventually Sir.” You replied, not meeting his gaze. “Whose office is it now?”
“Squad Leader Nanaba’s, she has said however that if you ever want to go and talk to her about Mike you’re more than welcome to do so.”
You nodded as a sob escaped you before you could stop it.
“Are you going to be okay?”
“Yes Sir, I’ll be fine.” You said shakily. “It’s just that, well...this is the final confirmation so to speak, that Mike is truly dead.”
Erwin nodded sadly.
“If it’s any small comfort, you do have a lot of friends here who are more than willing to help you deal with your loss.”
You raised your head and smiled sadly. “I know Sir and I’m grateful that they care so much about me.”
Erwin smiled, stood from his seat and squatted next to you, placing a large hand on your right shoulder.
“Don’t expect too much of yourself too soon, if you need to take some time off from your duties just ask me.”
“I can manage Sir.” You replied. “As long as I keep busy and don’t give myself too much time to dwell on things.”
Erwin nodded.
“Listen f/n, I know what you’re going through. There are two ways this can go...you can either move on and find someone else, or you can just move forward with your life alone. The choice is yours.”
You stared at him and remembered what Hanji had said.
“Which do you think is easiest Sir?”
Erwin closed his eyes and sighed.
“That is up to the individual.” He stated, opening his eyes. You continued to stare at him, you could see the sadness swimming in his eyes as clear as day.
“I lost someone I cared about a long time ago. Ever since then I’ve refused to let anyone else get close to me, just because I never know when I might die.”
You raised your eyebrows, letting him continue.
“We live a dangerous life here in the Survey Corps f/n, as you know all too well. Sometimes we have to make the choice between what is best for us and what is best for others. It’s not an easy choice, but it is one we are always going to be forced to make.”
“What if we make the wrong choice?” You questioned with a sniff.
Erwin sighed deeply and continued to hold your gaze.
“Then we have to live with the consequences and make sure that the ones we leave behind are aware of why we did what we did.”
You looked down at the floor, the pain of losing Mike was still so intense you could barely handle thinking about one hour to the next.
“Don’t go rushing into any decisions, give yourself time to grieve first.”
Advised Erwin as he stood up.
You nodded and wiped your tears on the sleeve of your jacket.
Another knock on the door interrupted you.
“Well someone’s popular today!” Smiled Erwin.
You managed a giggle and turned your gaze to the door.
“Enter.” You called.
The door opened a moment later and in walked Hanji.
“Hey f/n, wondered if you wanted to join me for lunch?”
Before you could answer a loud growling sound in your stomach did the talking for you.
“Yes she does.” Said Erwin sternly, folding his arms at you.
You tensed up under his gaze.
“Great!” Smiled Hanji rushing forward and grabbing your right hand, she yanked you out of your seat.
“Ouch, watch it!” You yelled, recoiling your hand and removing your glove to check your knuckles.
“F/n what the hell did you do to yourself?” Gasped Hanji as she looked at the deep gashes on your hand.
“It’s nothing, I punched a wall last night.” You shrugged, flexing your hand.
Erwin and Hanji both looked at you with raised eyebrows.
“What?” You protested. “I’m fine, just a bit sore. Besides Levi already sorted it for me, it’s just gonna be sore for a couple more days.”
“Well then how the hell did you manage to...”
You raised your head and widened your eyes at her, a deathly glare shone in your e/c eyes.
Hanji came to her senses and stopped talking immediately.
“Wow you must have a high pain threshold then.” She remarked.
“Fairly high.” You shrugged. “How do you think I managed to hide it? Anyway I thought we were going to have lunch?” You put your glove back on and flexed your hand again.
Hanji smiled and nodded.
“Let’s go then.”

You and Hanji found a table in a quiet corner of the mess hall and sat down.
“Thanks for nearly landing me in the brown stuff with Erwin you idiot!” You snapped sipping your tea.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.” Replied Hanji, her voice dropped to a whisper. “Seriously though how did you manage to punch Hitch without hurting yourself?”
“Who says it didn’t hurt?” You remarked, raising an eyebrow.
Hanji giggled and took a bite out of her bread roll.
You sighed and poked at your bowl of stew with your spoon, as hungry as you were you just couldn’t bring yourself to eat anything.
“Please talk to me f/n.” Said Hanji sadly. “It’s not good for you bottling everything up like this.”
You looked up and sat back in your seat, folding your arms.
“Erwin’s reassigned Mike’s office.” You muttered.
“Yeah I know.” She replied. “He wanted to give it to you at first, but I convinced him otherwise.”
“I know.” You replied with a small smile. “Thanks for that.”
Hanji smiled. “He meant well, but it wouldn’t have done you any good.”
“I’m glad you’re still around Hanji.” Your smile widened slightly, leaning forward you decided to try and eat some of your lunch. You knew full well Hanji would only pin you down and force feed you if you didn’t.
“You’re batshit crazy at times, but you’re a good friend.” You managed to eat a mouthful of stew, before speaking again. “I’d even go as far as to say you’re like an annoying sister at times.”
A warm smile spread across her face and she actually looked like she might cry.
“Aw f/n!” She squeaked. “That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me!”
“You dare start crying and I swear I will tip my lunch over your head!” You laughed, however Hanji simply continued to smile at you.
“You have a lot of friends here f/n, we’re all here for you if you need us.”
“I know and thanks.”

The afternoon passed uneventfully.
You got caught up on your paperwork and sat back in your chair.
“Finally.” You remarked, pushing the last of the papers to the other side of the desk ready to hand in to Erwin.
Sighing deeply you reached behind you for Mike’s jacket, affectionately stroking the wings of freedom emblem on the left breast pocket. A small smile crossed your face as more memories of him began to push their way to the front of your mind.

“Well hello f/n, what brings you here at this hour?” Smiled Mike leaning in the doorway of the mess hall. “It’s nearly midnight.”
You smirked but kept your back to him, you were building up to finally confessing how you actually felt about him, but first you were going to have a little fun giving him the run around.
“Couldn’t sleep Sir.” You replied with a small smile as you turned to face him, still clutching your cup of tea in one hand.
Mike looked at you with that gorgeous smile on his handsome face and walked over to you.
“F/n please, just call me Mike. May I keep you company?”
“Yeah okay then...Mike.”
Mike sat down in the seat next to you, resting his left elbow on the table and leaning his chin on his hand.
“Something troubling you?” He asked, concern was evident in his voice.
“No, just another round of insomnia, it happens from time to time.”
“Ah I see. Well as long as you’re okay.”
“I’m fine.” You smiled and turned away for a moment to take a sip of your tea.
Mike smiled softly and raised his right hand to your head, gently brushing a lock of stray hair behind your ear.
“I see you’ve overcome your shyness towards me.” He said huskily.
You turned back to him and smiled.
“You don’t intimidate me as much as Captain Levi.” You giggled. “Now if he was to try flirting with me, I think I’d be halfway to Wall Rose by now.”
Mike laughed. “Well I could always get him in here and then see how fast you can really run!”
Your smile disappeared to be replaced by a look of horror, Mike simply shook his head and laughed again.
“Oh f/n, I’m kidding. I would never do that to you.”
He gently ran the backs of his fingers over your cheek, making close your eyes and sigh in content at how soft his touch was.
“So, how long are you going to give me the run around for?” He grinned.
“Huh?” Your eyes snapped open and you stared at him in shock.
‘Damn that nose of his! He saw right through me.’
“I don’t know what you mean.” You smiled sweetly, trying to sound innocent.
Mike chuckled and moved his head closer to yours, you could feel his warm breath on your cheeks.
“Come on f/n, you want me and I want you. Just admit it.”
You stared into his warm blue eyes for a moment, he wasn’t wrong...you did want him. However you kept telling yourself not to get involved with another scout because of the dangers your regiment faced on a daily basis.
Mike leaned in closer and brushed his lips against yours, the stubble on his top lip tickling your face as he did.
You pulled away after a moment and smiled devilishly at him.
“Thank you for the good night kiss Mike.” You giggled, finishing your tea you stood up and made your way to the door.
“I’m not going to give up you know.” Called Mike, that devilishly charming grin still gracing his lips.
You turned back to face him and mirrored his grin.
“You can tease me all you want f/n, I’m not going to give up. I’ll continue to chase you until you agree to be mine.”
“I hope you do.” You smiled blowing him a kiss. “I rather enjoy a good game of cat and mouse.”
Mike’s grin melted into a genuine smile.
“The thrill is in the chase, but the reward is always in the capture.”
“Then you better work hard so you can catch me then hadn’t you?”
With a giggle you opened the door to leave.
“Good night Mike.”

You brought your mind back to the present and smiled as you hugged Mike’s jacket, breathing in his scent.
“I’ll always love you Mike.” You whispered softly. “Until my dying day.”