Chapter 1: Meeting You

He stared as the girl with perfect silky hair and raven-black eyes strode past in the hallways. "Have your eyes on Ackerman, i see," none other than Hanji said to him as she observed his eye movements.

"Nonsense," Levi brushed her away in annoyance as he continued to walk on.

"Oh Levi, don't need to blush like that!" She poked his cheek, having fun as if teasing a five-year-old on his crush.

The Vice Student President ignored the Head of Student Welfare's taunts as he ran a hand through his hair and headed for class.

"Mikasa Ackerman: 1st year. Number one in the cohord for both academics and atheletics," Hanji started to ramble on in the Student Council Room. "Height: 170cm. Oh, she's taller than you. Then again, isn't everyone?" She let out some outrageous laughter.

Levi clicked his tongue irritatedly.

"What are you guys talking about?" Petra came over to the table, serving two cups of tea with a pleasant smile.

"Mikasa Ackerman, know her?"

"I've heard of her... Why?"

"Oh you see, our little Levi has a cru-"

"Hanji. You're noisy. I'm trying to get some paperwork done so mind if you keep your trap shut?"

"Aww, how embarrassed. Fine, i'll do just that!" She happily skipped off as if without a care in the world.

Petra gave an awkward grin at her weird senior pranced away. Used to her, Levi simply sighed.

"S-so... Vice President Levi..."

"What is it?" He looked up at her from his seat with a menancing glare. "Nothing!" She replied without hesitation, quickly trying to drop the subject although it piqued her interests.

"Eren," Mikasa approached him, "why were your math results so bad?"

"That's because i'm bad at math. This test was pretty hard..."

"Do you need me to tutor you?"

Eren sighed a bit exasperated, "for the last time, no! Gosh, sometimes you're so overprotective. I can do this by myself, okay?" He stood up for his chair, making a cluttered sort of noise before exiting the classroom.

The Oriental beauty could only watch emotionlessly as the back of her adoptive brother grew smaller in the distance. She nestled her face into the red scarf he had given her ages ago, deep down inside, slightly hurt.

"Eren can be such an ass, you know?" Jean walked up to Mikasa, sheepishly trying to start a conversation with the person he was infatuated with, scratching the back of his head.

The girl of few words shot him a glare at the insults thrown at her only family before following in Eren's footsteps and walking out the door.

"You try too hard, man." Marco patted his good friend on the shoulder as Jean disappointedly watched her walk away.

She looked around for Eren once again. Coming to a halt at the back of the school building, she heard a scuffle going on. Also, the shouts of the very just and upright Eren.

"Let go of her now!" He yelled. Mikasa quickly turned a corner to aid him in the commotion. Eren was face to face with a mighty tall thug of the school. The restless punches that Eren threw seemed to have no effect on the big giant. The initial victim, by now, had already fled the scene. Mikasa interevened by grabbing the big guy by his arm and flipping him over on his back the moment he had swung Eren to the floor.

"What the hell!" The man screamed in pain before getting up once again to throw a punch at the girl's face. But before she could deftly block his attack, someone else had grabbed that fist and twisted the arm which sent the bully yelling in anguish. "I believe i've already warned you once before to stop the extortion of students. But i guess you don't like to listen very much, huh?" The dark-haired man rotated the hand even further.

"V-vice President Levi!" The towering bully cowered in fear of the rather short and stoic man.

"All of you," Levi ordered with much authority, "are coming with me to the Student Council Room, now."

Eren and the extortionist who had started the fight were sent to the Principal's office while Mikasa remained in the Student Council Room in the company of only Vice President Levi.

"Eren did not start the fight, i did!" Mikasa explained for the upteenth time, trying to take the blame once again for Eren.

Levi remained silent, only staring down at the mountain of paperwork that his irresponsible Head of Welfare had left him with to do.

Mikasa carried on with her protests, slightly enraged. "You saw me hit him, right? Get Eren out of there and let me see the Principal-"

Levi interjected. "Jaeger, already has a record for these kind of things. It's obvious that you're trying to cover for him. So, stop it."

"But-"

"You're stubborn, aren't you?" Levi stood up from his seat with much force as he slammed him palms of the table. Leaning over it, his face was close to Mikasa. He shot daggers at her with unwavering eyes, herself doing the same. "You're just like they say: overprotective. It won't do you any good if you continue like this. Don't get ahead of yourself, First-year." The man two years her senior sat down once again to get on with his job. Mikasa furrowed her brows as she stormed out the room.

"Mikasa!" A brunette ran up to her, her own cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk's.

"Oh, Sasha."

"Why did you just come out of the Stuco office?" She asked innocently while jabbing her fork into the lunchbox she was carrying. "Mm, potatoes!"

Mikasa did a very unnoticeable chuckle at the usual actions of her friend despite her rage earlier on. "Eren got into another fight... Again." The sentence ended with a sigh.

"Don't worry! You know what they say!"

"What do they say?"

"U-uhm... Potatoes are there for all occasions!" Sasha laughed without a care in the world as she offered some of her favourite potato to Mikasa which she kindly rejected. Actually slightly relieved by the fact she had more food to herself, Sasha waved goodbye to her and headed to the cafeteria to get even more food.

I guess i should head home first then, Mikasa thought to herself.

Mikasa tapped away impatiently on the dining table, waiting for Eren's return. She stared at the warm bowl of soup she had cooked for dinner, which was going to turn cold at the rate it was going before Eren came home.

The unlocking of the door sent her sitting upright and beamed happily—on the inside, of course— at the boy who walked through the door.

"Eren!" Mikasa exclaimed.

"Oh, hey. Got any food? I'm starving."

"Yeah. Hurry and eat it, it's about to get cold." She ushered him quickly to his seat. "How come you took so long? What happened in the Principal's office?"

"Yeah, that. The Principal was pretty intent on suspending both of us, but then Vice-Pres Levi came in and talked him out of it. So instead i had to stay back in school until i finished unweeding the field. Oh gosh, i'm famished!"

Mikasa looked worried as she reached out to rub the dirt stains off Eren's face.

The boy instinctively knocked her hands away.

"I'm okay. You don't have to be so worried all the time, you're not my mother."

"But Eren-"

"Thanks for the food" was the last thing he said to stop Mikasa mid-sentence and head up to his room.

"-I'm your family." She whispered to herself softly in the empty living room.

School the next day up till lunch break was the usual for Mikasa. She breezed through all the school activities, living up to her name of top student. During her break, she had decided to go to the rooftop for a little peace and quiet. But all she found was that short, infuriating vice president, sitting near the door and against the wall. At that sight, Mikasa immediately turned her heel to head back down the stairs.

"Wait," she heard Levi called from behind with the usual cold and rough voice.

She ignored his call and rushed down the flight of stairs, obviously not wanting conversation with him. Uncharacteristically, she missed a step and slipped. Normally, she would have been tumbling down by now, but a certain powerful hold had held her back which prevented that from happening.

Levi had one arm wrapped around her waist. His face was close to her's as she could feel his breath on her cheek. "I told you to wait, didn't i?" He said rather calmly with just a twinge of exasperation. "Sorry, i didn't hear you."

Like hell you didn't.

"You dropped this the other day," Levi unravelled his arm from around her and handed her a small keychain.

She felt herself getting hotter. She was unsure whether that could be seen on her face as she was intimately close with the man. He had presented her with a lost item she held very dear to her. She thanked him, despite not liking him, and continued down the steps, gripping the item tightly. Catious to not trip again. She headed down the hallway and relaxed her tensed up muscles a bit. She dangled that keychain he had given her in front of her face. It bobbed up and down as she walked briskly. On the small plank of light metal was delicately engraved, "Mikasa Ackerman". She sunk inward into her red scarf.

He watched her go down the stairs and turn left. Even after she had disappeared, Levi continued to stand there for a few more moments before heading back to his lunch. He took up the box of rice and sat down. He stared at his palm. He thought back to that moment. Her small waist, the porcelain skin he was so close to touching.

What the hell are you thinking about, Levi? he kept himself in check before resuming his meal.

"Hey Mikasa," Eren approached her after class had just ended. "About yesterday... I'm sorry. I was a bit harsh."

Mikasa grew slightly wide-eyed at Eren's apology. Eren continued to talk, "I know you're just worried about me and all, but i'm not your little brother. I can take care of myself now, trust me." He stared at her with the same determination he always had in his emerald eyes.

"Oh." She mumbled under her breath. Perhaps... It was time to let him go. She could still watch over him, maybe a little more toned down this time.

Just as Mikasa was about to voice out her own opinion they were interrupted by a greeting of their childhood friend. His blonde hair bobbed, the small-built Armin called out their names happily, waving his hand in the air.

"Eren, Mikasa!"

"Oh, Armin!" Eren enthusiastically replied him. "Have you heard?" Armin immediately asked after the formalities were over with.

"About what?" Eren titled his head at a slight angle.

"The sports festival. It's the talk of everyone in school." Armin gave the answer to Eren's inquiry.

Excitedly, he replied "Really? That's awesome!"

The details came in the next day.

Like usual schools, the entire student body was split into two: Red and White.

They would compete in different sports like relays, dashes, archery.

"Krista, what team are you in?" Ymir excitedly walked over to the girl mentioned with a slot of paper she had just drawn.

"White," the petite blonde opened the slip to check. "Yes!" Ymir grinned happily as she slung an arm around Krista to show her elation. A number of boys in the background also cheered silently with a 'white' written on the piece of paper they held. Reiner, especially, seemed to be in a good mood.

The usual team gathered around each other, sharing their team as they went.

"Wed," Sasha said with a stuffed mouth. "White," Connie said next. Jean sniggered slightly as he whispered into his friend's ear. "Disappointed?" Connie grew slightly flushed as he hit Jean on the back.

"Red" Jean said as he glanced slideways teasingly at Connie. A sudden White streak struck as Marco, Reiner, Bertholdt, Armin and Eren all said their team aloud. Mikasa's face visibly fell at Eren's turn as she glanced down to the words mocking her. "Red," she said with her usual monotonous tone.

"Oh too bad we aren't in the same team," Eren turned to Mikasa to say.

"Yeah, well too bad," Jean interrupted them with a smug look on his face. "why don't the reds have a little sports meeting over there?" He ushered Mikasa away from that stupid boy that was blind to how attractive his adopted sister really was.

Armin noticed Annie sitting at the corner of the room, isolating herself from everyone else. He plucked up some courage to be inclusive as he approached her. "Y-yo Annie, so what team are you on?"

"See for youself," she replied, obviously lacking interest in conversation as she glanced outside.

"Why don't you join us?" Armin attempted to restart the conversation as he noted that she was on the same coloured team as him. "I've got better things to do." The girl with the menacing aura stood up to exit the classroom, leaving Armin feeling a bit regretful trying to approach her.

"The 100m dash looks interesting..." Jean overheard Eren from the conversation going on at the other side of the classroom.

"I'll participate in the 100m dash," Jean announced to his group. After having failed placing higher than Eren in the entrance exams, he thought this could finally be the chance to outshine him. "How about you Mikasa?"

"Anything's fine," she said and burried her face into that crimson scarf.

"What did you get, Vice-President Levi?" Petra asked trying to contain some excitement in front of the dispassionate man. "Red" he answered as he took the cup of tea from his underclassman's hands. "Oh," she murmured, "guess we're not on the same team then," she smiled, trying to cover up her obvious disappointment.

"What's this i hear? An ally?" Hanji came rushing in, messing up the stoned Levi's hair. "Team Red!" She cheered, ignoring the irritation showing on the man's face.

"Hanji. Keep it down."

"What's the commotion?" Erwin Smith entered the room with a dignified air. The respected President looked to his fellow council mates, awaiting an answer from them. "Oh Erwin! Just what's everybody's talking about. The sport's festival! What team are you on?" She asked, completely friendly with the tall man.

"I seeked permission to withdraw from any competition."

"What?" Hanji looked astonished upon hearing this fact. "Come on! Even grumpy little Levi here's participating! Aren't you Levi?" She chuckled at the last sentence and messed up his hair further. He knocked her hand off.

"Actually, that's a matter i wanted to discuss with you. Gunther, due to some personal reasons has transferred out of this school. Thus, it has left our position for secretary empty.

"Since the Sports Festival is coming up, we'd be even busier. I've sacrificed my participation for this sake. I hope you all understand."

The rest of them nodded in acknowledgemnt of his words.

"Levi, i need to speak with you."

"What is it?" Levi asked Erwin when the two girls had cleared the room. Although the feared man bowed down to practically no one, the President was one of the few Levi trusted and admired greatly.

"About the secretary position, i would like you to find a replacement. A capable person, just as Gunther was."

"Of any year?"

"As long as he or she has the abilities to cope, yes."

"I understand," Levi bowed and left the room. Once out the door, he met with the females of the committee leaning nonchalantly against the wall.

"What was it about?" Petra inquired when she say the man emerge.

He waved her off without a second thought. "Nothing much."

As the vertically challenged man continued walking down the corridor, putting a greater distance between them, Hanji spoke out. "Aw Petra, you've got to try harder!" The ecstatic woman encouraged the second-year. A certain colour rose up in the girl's cheeks. "Especially since..." Hanji didn't complete her sentence. She had decided it was best not to reveal anything to the pure-hearted girl.

"Since what?" Petra seemed confused by her senior's strange pause.

"It's nothing," Hanji smiled at her and continued her ramble on about the new figurines she had added to her very strange collection.

While he patrolled around the corridor he sighted the same beautiful but overprotective girl coming in the opposite direction.

Mikasa had seen that shorty as she approached, but made a decision to continue walking without as much as a nod out of politeness. It was not as if there was a point to these sort of formalities anyway.

However, just as they passed each other, she heard her name being called.

"Ackerman." It was the voice of the emotionless and stoic Levi.

The girl turned around. "What is it?" She was straight to the point. Also, she didn't see why he would need her for anything or the fact that he remembered her name. Unless she had dropped something valuable again, in which that would just make the Vice-President Levi a walking lost-and-found.

"How would you like to join the Student Council? As secretary."

Mikasa raised her eyebrows at this unexpected statement. "What for?"

"The Council's short of members. And we need capable people in our ranks. Despite being a first year, i've heard pretty good things about you."

"And how would you know they're true." Mikasa still had her suspicions to his invitation. Afterall, it was totally random and in-your-face type of question.

"I'm not stupid, Ackerman. I've checked you records. I'll give you a day to decide." He fought the urge to add 'like that reckless brat you hang out with' after the word 'stupid', but came to a quick realisation it would make her less likely to say agree to his proposal'. And with that, he left her without saying another word.