#smackermans

I'm horrible about tagging updates/behind the scenes properly, will update once I get better about that, but right now you can find most updates under #smackermans

Flashes of light and distant, muffled voices were the first thing to crawl through the thick, anesthesia-induced haze clouding Levi’s mind. Next was an odd heaviness in his left leg, though he couldn’t really feel much of anything below his waist. When the lights dimmed enough that he could finally open his eyes, his vision was nearly as clouded as his brain. Even when he rubbed most of the blurriness away, he had to blink a few times before he fully believed what he saw by the window in the corner of the room. Flowers.

Ever since she was old enough to understand the concept of money, Mikasa Ackerman had been saving every penny she could find. With any luck, one day she would save up enough to escape the living hell that was her family. Hardly a day of her life passed under their roof without someone screaming, something being broken, with the worst days ending with someone being taken to the ER. She got her first job at a fast-food chain at sixteen, working every shift she could, riding her bike or taking some form of public transport when her parents were too strung out to drive her. Once she was done with school at eighteen, she was able to take on the higher-paying night shifts, setting everything she could until she finally saved enough for a decent down payment on a new car. Technically it was a used car, but it was new to her, and most importantly, it was owned by her, finally giving her a way out. She’d rather sleep in her car than spend another night under the same roof as her parents. Not many apartments were willing to sign a lease with someone so young, anyway.

“Where’s all this coming from?” She asked, blinking away the familiar stinging sensation in her eyes. “Believe it or not,” she could practically hear him rolling his eyes, “you’re important to me too, brat.”

The princess’s hand felt damp and sticky under Levi’s palm, and he fought the urge to release his grip and run to his chambers. Instead, he tugged her arm forward as he stomped down the shaded path. “My Prince, perhaps you should slow down,” his mother’s handmaiden called, “the princess is a bit younger than you, she can’t walk as fast.” Levi stopped abruptly, causing Mikasa to bump her nose into his shoulder. Gods, he couldn’t believe he was going to be stuck with this girl for… how long had his mother said? Possibly the entire summer? Only if this special council meeting went well, right? He didn’t understand it all, just that he was meant to befriend and one day “marry” this girl to better the future of both their kingdoms. His mother and the Chancellor had tried to help him understand, but he still wasn’t entirely sure what that word meant. “Apologies, Princess.” Levi bowed his head slightly before continuing his walk, this time with gentler steps and a slower pace. Despite his efforts, Mikasa still traveled a step behind him, though her hand remained in his. She wouldn't take her eyes off the ground; Mikasa stared at her feet as they walked, only looking up at him for a short moment if he tugged on her arm. “What’s wrong?” Levi asked.  The princess glanced up at him once again, this time long enough for him to catch the faint shimmer of unshed tears.  “I want to go home.” She whispered, her voice high-pitched and trembling. Oh, Gods… Was she about to cry? Before the panic he felt could fully set in, the echoes of men shouting and swords clanking together caught his ears.  “I can’t take you home,” he said, “but I can show you something cool.” Sniffling, the princess finally looked up from her feet and held his eyes. Hers were glossy, but wide with newfound anticipation. With his free hand, Levi pointed towards the sound, giving her hand a much more gentle tug to follow him.

“The fuck’r those?” He asked no one in particular, words slurring as he pointed weakly to the vase in the corner of the room. “Mikasa’s friends brought those by this morning.” A woman’s voice, quiet but weighted by exhaustion. “The snow’s all but melted, so most of them had to work, but they wanted to try and thank you anyway.” Mikasa… Right. Slowly, the memories trickled back to him—the texts, the accident, his stupid fucking ankle.  Levi realized the heaviness wasn’t exclusive to his limbs as he turned to face towards the voice, feeling his head droop weakly into the plush pillow beneath him. Through the grogginess he could make out a dark-haired figure sitting beside his bed, though it took another minute of rubbing the sleep from his eyes before they could focus enough to recognize— “Mrs. Yeager?”

(I only have 4 fics up atm but that trend is likely to continue)