Past doesn't matter (Levi x OC x Erwin) AU/modern +18

Chapter 2 - New friendship and a kept promise Pt. 1

- 4 Months later

Nina has been frequenting the gym for nearly four months now, and with the arrival of summer, her hormones have finally found their equilibrium. What began as a means to dispel excess energy and regulate her hormones has now transformed into a luxurious way of sculpting her body. However, despite shedding a remarkable 12 pounds and training four days a week, the experience had become tedious and monotonous. Nina had initially relished the solitude, but as the season changed, she yearned for a companion to share her journey with.

Over the past few months, Nina had noticed a mysterious woman with luscious black hair, who frequented the gym at the same time as her. They exchanged casual greetings and friendly smiles, but Nina had yet to learn her name. The woman's striking appearance had captivated Nina, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for her. However, the other women in the gym seemed to gawk at them whenever they conversed, as if they couldn't believe what they were witnessing.

Through locker room gossip, Nina discovered that the black-haired woman had difficulty making friends and socializing, much like herself. Despite this, she didn't seem too shy to initiate a friendship, unlike Nina. It seemed as though fate had other plans for their relationship.

One day, as Nina sat in a cozy sitting area near the entrance of the gym, she was abruptly interrupted by a familiar yet gentle voice.

"Excuse me, do you enjoy music?"

Nina turned to face the source of the voice and was met with a pair of captivating dark grey eyes. The woman approached her as if drawn to a beacon of light, and Nina found herself utterly bewildered by the situation.

"Hello? Are you alright?" The woman asked, waving her hand before Nina's face as if to rouse her from a trance.

"Oh! Yeah sorry...I am just surprised to have you come up and talk to me so suddenly. Yes I like music. What about you?"

She gracefully settled herself beside Nina, her body turning towards her with a fluid motion as she crossed her legs with effortless elegance.

"I, too, have a deep appreciation for music," she murmured in a velvety tone. Nina was taken aback by the sudden attention, her cheeks flushing with a rosy hue as she struggled to contain her excitement.

For a blissful ten minutes, the two indulged in idle chatter, discussing the trivialities of life such as the capricious weather and their personal preferences. They even shared a laugh over the ostentatious attire of certain women at the gym, who flaunted their svelte figures in skin-tight leggings and shirts to garner the attention of passing men or to incite envy in their peers. It was as though they had been lifelong confidantes, yet Nina remained ignorant of her companion's name. Seizing the opportunity, she resolved to inquire.

"By the way....." Nina started, with a slightly trembling voice "What's your name? I see you whenever I am doing my workout here but I never managed to ask you. Honestly, I never thought that this would ever happen, you, sitting here talking to some ordinary girl like me." Still, with that soft smile on her lips, she answered you.

"The name's Mikasa. Mikasa Ackerman. What's yours? I prefer to know my friend's name when I talk to them."

Her response was nothing short of astonishing. A mere quarter of an hour ago, they were strangers in passing, and now, Mikasa had already become a cherished confidante. With a radiant smile illuminating her countenance, she proffered her reply without hesitation.

"I am Nina Williams. I'm pleased to meet you." Extending her hand in a gesture of cordiality, Mikasa eagerly reciprocated the gesture. Her grip was both robust and gentle, a testament to her restrained might.

"Mikasa, what a pretty name. I have yet to encounter another with such a unique one. May I ask where you come from?"

"I'm from around here, though my ancestors hail from the Asian continent. My mother is of Asian descent, while my father is a native of these lands."

"How fascinating!" Yet, despite the amiable exchange, there lingered a nagging query that plagued Nina's thoughts.

"Mikasa, there is one thing I would like ask. What made you decide to talk to me? The first time you caught me staring at you, you gave me the most ferocious death-glare ever. Sure, over time we managed to exchange softer looks and even started talking, but....what I'm trying to say is, why befriend me when you could have someone who suits you more?"

Her countenance momentarily dimmed, but in a fleeting moment, she regained her poise and the effervescent smile that graced her visage.

"Because I think you are different. Different from all the other people I'm surrounded by every day. They are boring and just live for themselves. They are like pigs who are gathering around their food and pushing each other aside to get the most of it. Not you! Your eyes tell me that you're different. I like them." Nina shifted in her seat, but Mikasa persisted.

"Your eyes look so interesting. You may not realize it, but even if you wear the brightest smile on your lips, your eyes remain sad. When I look into your eyes, I can tell that you had to suffer and endure a lot of pain despite being so young."
Mikasa delicately clasped Nina's hand in hers, her eyes agape with astonishment, scarcely able to fathom the words that had just escaped her lips. It was as though she possessed the ability to peer into Nina's very essence. How could she have known? Was it truly that apparent? While Nina had indeed endured her fair share of trials and tribulations in her nascent years, she had not been one to broadcast her struggles to the world.

"You okay, Nina? Did I upset you? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...." Mikasa tilted her head a little and released Nina's hand from her grip.

"No Mikasa. It's okay! You are right...but... I just don't like to talk about that part of my life. I'm trying to live in the present, not in the past but I guess you can't just get rid of what happened in the past that easily." Nina sighed deeply. "I guess it would be easier if I had more friends. I have just one friend in this town and that's it."

"Maybe you should start making new ones? How about this. Let's meet here and start working out together. If you want, we can meet in the city and have a cup of coffee and a little chit-chat. Would you like that?"

Nina's response was swift and resplendent, her countenance illuminated by a radiant smile and accompanied by a flurry of enthusiastic nods. "Yes! Of course! I would love to!"

"Then I guess we have a deal then?"

Mikasa took Nina's hand with a graceful gesture, promising a shake that would seal their newfound friendship. As she gazed at her watch, her eyes widened in shock, and she apologized for the abrupt departure. With a sense of urgency, she bid Nina farewell, leaving the dressing room with a wave and a promise of their next encounter.