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It started innocently enough. Mikasa had been returning from a scouting mission when she heard a soft, pitiful meow from the underbrush. She stopped, her eyes scanning the area until she spotted the tiny creature—a small, scruffy black-and-white cat, its fur matted and its wide green eyes staring up at her with a mix of curiosity and desperation.
Mikasa's heart softened instantly. Without hesitation, she scooped it up, tucking it into her jacket as she made her way back to HQ.
By the time she arrived, the cat had already made itself at home in her arms, purring loudly. She slipped into HQ, trying to avoid drawing attention, but it didn't take long before Sasha spotted her in the hallway.
"Is that a cat?!" Sasha practically shrieked, startling Connie, who came around the corner with a half-eaten loaf of bread.
"What's a cat doing here?" Connie asked, his voice filled with mock suspicion. "Mikasa, are you replacing us with a furrier, cuter friend?"
"Absolutely," Mikasa deadpanned, though the faintest hint of a smile tugged at her lips.
Within minutes, word had spread through their friend group. Armin, Eren, Jean, and Isabel all gathered in Mikasa's room, where the cat sat on her bed, grooming itself as though it owned the place. Sasha was on the floor, feeding it scraps of meat she'd smuggled from the mess hall, while Connie tried (and failed) to coax the cat into sitting on his lap.
"Why does it like Mikasa so much?" Jean grumbled, watching as the cat curled up on Mikasa's jacket. "I'm better with animals."
"No, you're not," Eren said bluntly. "Remember that horse that tried to kick you in the face?"
"Shut up, Eren."
Isabel, sitting cross-legged on the floor, leaned closer to Mikasa. "Do you think Big Bro will let us keep it?"
Mikasa sighed. "You mean Levi?"
"Who else?" Isabel replied cheekily. "You've got him wrapped around your finger, Mikasa. Just bat your eyelashes and tell him the cat boosts morale or something."
"That's not how it works," Mikasa muttered, though the idea of trying made her smirk.
As the group continued fawning over the cat, Levi's voice echoed from down the hall, sending everyone into a frenzy.
"Scatter!" Sasha hissed, grabbing the cat and shoving it into a basket. The group scrambled to make themselves look busy, but the cat, evidently not on the same page, let out a loud, unmistakable meow.
Levi appeared in the doorway, his cold gaze sweeping the room. His eyes immediately landed on the suspiciously large group clustered in Mikasa's room. "What the hell is going on here?"
No one answered, but the cat meowed again, drawing his attention to the basket Sasha was attempting to discreetly slide under the bed. Levi's eyes narrowed.
"Pets are not allowed," Levi said flatly. "Who brought it in?"
The silence stretched unbearably until Mikasa, entirely unbothered, crossed her arms and said, "Me."
The rest of the group exchanged wide-eyed glances. Mikasa's calm admission was bold, considering Levi's no-nonsense stance on rules.
Levi's eyes locked onto her, his brow furrowing. "Ackerman."
Mikasa tilted her head slightly, feigning innocence. "It's just a cat."
Jean whispered behind her, "She's gonna get us all killed."
Levi's gaze flicked to the others, who were all trying (and failing) to act nonchalant. "And the rest of you?"
"They were playing with the cat." Mikasa said, deadpanned.
Levi stared at her for a long moment. Then he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "The cat goes back outside by tomorrow morning."
The group collectively deflated. But before Levi could leave, the cat decided to intervene. It padded out of the basket and rubbed against Levi's leg, purring loudly.
Connie whispered to Eren, "I think it's trying to charm him."
Levi looked down at the cat, his expression hard to read. Finally, he turned back to Mikasa. "If it stays, it's your responsibility. If it scratches the furniture, you're fixing it. If it gets into the kitchen, you're cleaning it. Understood?"
Mikasa nodded, a small, triumphant smile playing at her lips. "Understood."
The group stared in disbelief as Levi walked out of the room, shaking his head.
"Are you kidding me?" Connie said. "How does she get away with that?"
"It's the Levi effect," Sasha said, grinning. "You should ask her to convince him to let us have extra rations next."
"I'll think about it," Mikasa said dryly, watching as the cat curled up on her bed, perfectly content.
Levi's office was quiet, save for the soft scratching of his pen against paper. He sat at his desk, meticulously reviewing mission reports, his posture rigid as always. The door creaked open, and he glanced up, his eyes narrowing at the sight of Mikasa stepping in, carrying a small bundle of fur in her arms.
"What are you doing?" Levi asked, his voice clipped. His gaze flicked to the cat, which stared back at him with unblinking green eyes.
Mikasa smirked, her tone light but teasing. "I thought you could use some company, Captain."
Levi's pen stilled, and he leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. "Get that thing out of here. My office isn't a petting zoo."
The cat, as if sensing Levi's displeasure, let out a loud, demanding meow. Mikasa raised an eyebrow. "It likes you."
Levi gave her an unimpressed look. "That's not mutual."
Ignoring him, Mikasa walked further into the room, casually setting the cat down on his desk. The cat immediately began sniffing his papers, its tail flicking back and forth as it made itself at home. Levi's eye twitched.
"Mikasa," he said warningly, his tone low.
She sat down across from him, completely unbothered. "I've decided to name it Levi."
Levi blinked, caught off guard for a moment. "Excuse me?"
"The cat," Mikasa said, gesturing to the tiny creature now pawing at the corner of his report. "Its attitude reminds me of you. All grumpy and bossy."
Levi stared at her, then at the cat, which had curled up on top of his stack of neatly arranged papers. Its eyes closed as it began to purr, completely oblivious to the tension in the room.
"You think this is funny?" Levi asked, his voice deadpan.
"A little," Mikasa admitted, leaning back in her chair. "It's fitting, don't you think?"
Levi's gaze shifted between her and the cat. "You brought that thing into HQ, ignored my orders to keep it out of here, and now you're naming it after me?"
Mikasa shrugged, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. "I think it's an honor."
The cat chose that moment to stretch out, knocking a pen off the desk. Mikasa reached down to pick it up. When she straightened, she was still smirking.
"You don't have to admit it, but I think you like it," she said, her tone teasing.
Levi's jaw tightened, but he didn't kick the cat off his desk. Instead, he resumed his work, his expression carefully neutral. "If it damages anything, you're cleaning it."
"Of course," Mikasa said, her voice light as she stood. "I'll leave you to your work... Levi." She winked as she picked up the cat, tucking it back into her arms.
Levi didn't look up, but the faintest twitch of his lips betrayed his thoughts. As the door clicked shut behind her, he glanced at the small tuft of fur left on his desk.
****************************
The Survey Corps HQ was unusually lively that afternoon. Mikasa had gone out on an errand, leaving the little cat—affectionately named Levi—in the care of Armin, Eren, Isabel, and Farlan. Naturally, chaos ensued.
The four of them sat on the common room floor, taking turns entertaining the cat, though their methods were questionable at best.
"Levi, catch this!" Eren said, holding a piece of string and tugging it back and forth. The cat batted at it half-heartedly before losing interest.
"Maybe it doesn't like string," Armin suggested, holding a book open near the cat's face. "Do cats like pictures?"
"Armin, it's a cat, not a scholar," Farlan said, laughing as he tried to coax the cat onto his lap. "Here, kitty."
Isabel, meanwhile, had taken a small piece of bread from the mess hall and was waving it in front of the cat. "It's like training a horse, right?"
"Don't feed it that!" Armin scolded.
"It's just bread!" Isabel protested. "You're worse than my big bro—"
Her words cut off as the cat squirmed in her arms, its tiny claws catching on her sleeve.
"That's it!" Eren declared, scooping the cat up. "Maybe it wants to wrestle!"
Before anyone could stop him, Eren flipped the cat gently onto its back, holding its little paws up like it was ready to box.
"Stop manhandling it, Eren!" Armin yelled, horrified.
The cat let out a distressed meow, its tail lashing as it wriggled free of Eren's grip.
"What are you all doing?" Levi's cold voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
The group froze, their heads snapping toward the doorway. Levi stood there, arms crossed, his piercing gaze fixed on them—and the trembling cat.
"Big bro!" Isabel grinned nervously, still holding the piece of bread. "We were just, uh, bonding with the cat."
"By traumatizing it?" Levi said flatly, striding into the room. He knelt beside the cat, scooping it up with practiced ease. The cat, as if sensing salvation, immediately curled against his chest, purring loudly.
"You're supposed to be watching it, not treating it like some ragdoll," Levi snapped, glaring at each of them in turn.
"We weren't hurting it!" Eren protested, though his voice wavered.
Levi's glare deepened. "If I see any of you handling it like that again, I'll make you scrub the bathrooms for a week. Am I clear?"
"Crystal," Armin said quickly, looking thoroughly chastised.
Levi straightened, cradling the cat as it nuzzled into his jacket. "I'll take care of it. You're all obviously useless."
"Hey, it's Mikasa's cat," Isabel said, pouting.
"And she left it in your care," Levi countered, his tone icy. "A mistake she won't make again."
With that, Levi turned on his heel and left the room, the cat still purring contentedly in his arms.
"Did he just... steal the cat?" Eren asked, stunned.
"Not stolen," Armin corrected with a sigh. "Rescued."
"Big bro really is more like a cat than a person," Isabel muttered, earning a snicker from Farlan.
Back in his office, Levi set the cat down gently on the edge of his desk. It stretched lazily before curling up, tail flicking in satisfaction.
"At least you're quiet," Levi muttered, returning to his chair.
Though the quiet was only short-lived. Some time later, as he worked with his usual efficiency, his eyes flicked toward the feline, which had sprawled out on top of a stack of documents like it owned the place.
Levi exhaled sharply, setting down his pen. "Tch. You're worse than Isabel," he muttered, leaning back in his chair.
The cat lifted its head lazily, blinking at him with half-closed eyes before letting out a soft, unimpressed meow.
"Oh, so now you've got something to say?" Levi raised an eyebrow. "Figures. You don't lift a damn paw to help, but you'll sit there and judge me like it's your job."
The cat yawned, stretching out its little body and knocking a few loose papers onto the floor in the process.
"Yeah, I figured you'd be a menace," Levi said dryly, leaning down to pick up the scattered pages. "Mikasa really nailed it, naming you after me. Stubborn, insufferable, thinks the world revolves around you..." He paused, giving the cat a pointed look. "But at least I don't shed all over the damn place."
The cat flicked its tail, seemingly unbothered, and curled up again.
Levi rubbed his temples, leaning forward with his elbows on the desk. "You know, this wasn't supposed to be my problem. Mikasa dumps you on the recruits, and what do they do? Nearly turn you into a chew toy. Figures I'm the only competent one around here."
The cat responded with another meow, its green eyes gleaming.
Levi smirked faintly. "What, you agree with me? Or are you just hungry?"
As if on cue, the cat stood up, padded closer to him, and headbutted his arm. Levi stiffened at first, then sighed, tentatively scratching behind its ears.
"You're lucky you're not as annoying as the brats," he muttered, his voice quieter now. The cat purred louder, leaning into his touch.
Levi sat back, watching the tiny creature settle back onto his desk, this time on top of his reports. "I don't know how she talked me into this," he said, almost to himself. "Or why I didn't throw you out the second I saw you."
The cat meowed again, its tail flicking lazily.
He picked up his pen again, but his hand hesitated over the paper as he glanced at the cat one more time. "...You better not knock over my tea later."
The cat blinked slowly at him, looking entirely unbothered.
Levi let out a soft tch, but the corner of his mouth twitched into something that might have been the faintest hint of a smile.
The door to Levi's office creaked open slowly, revealing Mikasa standing in the doorway. She hesitated for a moment, taking in the scene before her. Levi, humanity's strongest soldier, was sitting at his desk, one hand holding a pen, the other scratching behind the ears of a cat sprawled out across his documents.
Her lips twitched as she caught him mid-sentence.
"...I don't care how cute you think you are," Levi muttered, not noticing her. "You knock my cup over, and you'll be sleeping outside. You hear me?"
The cat responded with a soft, contented purr, its tail flicking lazily as if mocking him.
"Unbelievable," Levi continued. "I'm in charge of an entire squad of morons, and now I'm babysitting a damn furball. You better not start acting like Isabel—"
"You would make a good dad."
Levi froze, his pen hovering above the paper as Mikasa's voice cut through the air. Slowly, he turned his head, his stormy gray eyes meeting her amused gaze.
Her expression was perfectly neutral, except for the faintest quirk of her lips.
"How long have you been standing there?" he asked flatly, his hand still resting on the cat, which seemed entirely unbothered by the tension in the room.
"Long enough," Mikasa replied, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. "So... you and Levi are bonding?" she teased, gesturing toward the cat.
He scoffed, pulling his hand back as though caught doing something inappropriate. "Tch. It's not bonding. I'm just making sure this menace doesn't destroy my office."
Mikasa raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she leaned against the doorframe. "Really? Because it sounded like you were having a pretty heartfelt conversation."
"I don't have heartfelt conversations," Levi shot back, his tone clipped. "Least of all with a cat."
The cat chose that moment to stretch and meow, as if in protest.
Mikasa's lips twitched again, but she didn't hide her smile this time. "Sure, Captain. Whatever you say."
Levi narrowed his eyes at her, but there was no real heat in his gaze. "Don't you have something better to do than eavesdrop on me?"
Mikasa pushed off the doorframe and walked toward the desk, her hand brushing the cat's fur as she passed. "Not really. Besides, it's not every day I catch you talking to yourself."
"I wasn't talking to myself," he grumbled, picking up his pen again. "I was scolding it."
"Right," Mikasa said, her tone laced with amusement. "And did it apologize?"
Levi shot her a look, but the corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly. "If you're done being a smartass, take this thing with you. I've got work to do."
Mikasa picked up the cat, cradling it in her arms as it purred contentedly. She looked down at Levi, her smile softening. "You're not as scary as you think."
"Get out," Levi muttered, though his tone lacked its usual edge.
Mikasa chuckled, turning toward the door. As she left, she called over her shoulder, "Don't worry, Levi. I'll make sure he doesn't 'destroy' anything else."
Levi sighed, leaning back in his chair as the door clicked shut behind her. He glanced at his now-empty desk, his gaze lingering for a moment before he muttered under his breath, "Tch. Menace."
****************************
Mikasa walked briskly down the hall toward Levi's office, her steps echoing against the stone walls. She'd been out on an errand all day, and now her priority was one thing: checking on Levi.
Throwing open the door, she called out casually, "Levi?"
Seated at his desk, the human Levi looked up from his papers, his sharp gray eyes narrowing slightly. "What?"
Mikasa blinked, her gaze flickering across the room. "I wasn't talking to you."
Levi's expression darkened immediately. "Excuse me?"
"I meant the cat," Mikasa said, stepping further into the room and scanning for the small furball. "Where's Levi?"
Levi dropped his pen with a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You named the damn cat after me. This is your fault."
"Where is he?" Mikasa pressed, ignoring his frustration.
Levi gestured lazily toward the corner of the room, where the cat was curled up on a pile of neatly stacked reports. Mikasa smiled, walking over to scoop him up.
"There you are," she cooed, scratching the cat's chin. "Did you bother Levi?"
Levi—the human one—bristled. "Levi did just fine. Unlike someone, he actually listened to orders and didn't destroy anything."
Mikasa smirked, cuddling the cat close as she sat down in the chair opposite Levi's desk. "Well, he is well-behaved. You could learn a thing or two from him."
Levi's eye twitched. "It's a cat, not a role model."
"Still," Mikasa said innocently, stroking the cat's fur. "I think he has a better attitude than you sometimes."
The human Levi stood abruptly, walking to the bookshelf and muttering something under his breath something like "ridiculous."
The next few days were filled with similar moments. Mikasa's fondness for the cat seemed to grow with every passing hour, and much to Levi's chagrin, the creature had taken a liking to his office.
One evening, as Mikasa lounged in Levi's office with the cat sprawled across her lap, Levi glanced over from his paperwork. "Does he really need to be in here all the time?"
Mikasa didn't look up. "Why? Does it bother you?"
"It's not his room," Levi said curtly, setting his pen down.
"He likes it here," Mikasa replied with a shrug. "Besides, he keeps you company while I'm gone."
Levi stared at her, unamused. "I don't need his company."
The cat meowed loudly, as if offended by Levi's tone.
Mikasa chuckled, scratching behind the cat's ears. "See? He disagrees."
Levi leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "He's a cat. He doesn't disagree. He doesn't even know what you're saying."
Mikasa tilted her head, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "He understands me just fine. Maybe you're the one who doesn't."
Levi stood abruptly, pacing to the window. "Tch. Whatever."
One night, she called out from the hallway. "Levi!"
"Yeah?" the human Levi replied, stepping into the doorway.
"No, not you," Mikasa said, peeking into the room. "I meant the cat. Have you seen him?"
Levi's expression hardened. "He's a damn cat, Mikasa. He doesn't need roll call."
Mikasa ignored him, calling out again. "Levi! Come here, boy!"
The cat padded into the room moments later, jumping into her arms. Mikasa smiled brightly, scratching under his chin. "Good boy."
Levi—the human one—stood frozen, his patience wearing thin. "You know what? Keep it up, and I'll name the next Titan we kill after you."
Mikasa grinned at him. "Jealous, Captain?"
Levi's glare was deadly. "Of a cat? Don't flatter yourself."
The cat meowed in Mikasa's arms, nuzzling into her chest. Mikasa looked back at Levi, her smirk widening. "Sure. Whatever you say."
Levi turned on his heel, muttering, "I hate this."
The candlelight in Levi's office flickered softly as Mikasa sat comfortably on the couch, cradling the cat, Levi Jr., in her lap. She was cooing to him, scratching under his chin while he purred loudly, soaking up all her attention. Human Levi, seated at his desk, was barely holding it together as he watched the scene out of the corner of his eye.
"You're such a good boy, aren't you?" Mikasa murmured, pressing a kiss to the cat's head.
Levi's patience snapped. "Enough."
Mikasa glanced up, startled. "What?"
"Put the damn cat down," Levi said sharply, standing from his desk.
"Why? He's not doing anything," Mikasa said, frowning as she stroked the cat's fur protectively.
Levi crossed the room in a few quick strides, his jaw tight. "He's in the way."
"In the way of what?" Mikasa challenged, her brow arching as she cuddled the cat closer.
Levi bent down, his gray eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. Without breaking eye contact, he gently but firmly plucked the cat from her lap.
"Levi!" she exclaimed, watching as he carried the cat to the door.
Levi opened the door, set the cat down carefully outside, and then closed it. The latch clicked loudly in the silence of the room.
"You didn't have to kick him out," Mikasa said, half-annoyed, half-amused.
Levi turned back to her, his hand resting on the doorknob. "I did." He twisted the lock, the sound sending a spark of anticipation through the air.
Mikasa's amusement faltered as Levi stalked toward her, his movements slow. "What are you doing?"
"Getting back what's mine," Levi said simply, his voice rough.
Before she could reply, he was kneeling in front of her, his hands bracing on either side of the couch as he leaned in. Mikasa's breath hitched as he invaded her space, the heat of him overwhelming.
"You've been coddling that furball all week," Levi murmured, his lips brushing the shell of her ear. "But I think you've forgotten something."
Mikasa's cheeks flushed as she swallowed hard. "You're being ridiculous. It's just a—"
Levi cut her off, tilting her chin up with his fingers and capturing her lips in a deep, searing kiss. Her protest melted away as she grabbed onto his shirt, pulling him closer.
He pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers. "Still think I'm being ridiculous?"
Mikasa's smirk returned, though her voice was breathless. "Maybe."
Levi's lips quirked upward in the faintest of smirks before he claimed her lips again, his hands sliding to her waist.
The cat meowed faintly from outside the door, scratching softly.
"Not now," Levi muttered against her lips, his voice tinged with annoyance.
Mikasa laughed softly, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You really are jealous of him."
"Shut up," Levi growled, silencing her with another kiss.