A/N:

Hello potential readers!

This is my first time writing fanfiction, but worry not! For I am not new to writing, and I have read many-a-good fanfiction before, so I get the idea.

This is a new multi-chaptered Eremika fic I came up with, I was thinking of following the main story but eremika and doing some moments in-between the main plot. Please let me know what you think and know that I am always open to ALL forms of criticism, as I use it to help myself as a writer so feel free to go Gordon Ramsay on me.

I'm thinking of releasing this first chapter now while I write the next 5-10 chapters of this and release them all together, that way you will have lots to read at once. (if anyone will read this *nervous laugh*)

Alright let's get this started.

The pitch black, moonless nights like these ones always made Mikasa remember that terrible night years ago when Eren had saved her from the slavers that had killed her parents. The whole scene relaying in her head over and over, and the same lessons being taught to her again and again.

If you don't fight, you don't win.

The world is a cruel place where only the victor survives.

Mikasa tried to stop her train of thought there, but it was already too late, she was already starting to remember again...

Dr. Jeager's cart rattled against the gravel and dirt path leading back to Shiganshina district. The only light in the pitch black night being the warm yellow glow of the lamp attached to the front of the cart next to Dr. Jeager, who was paying attention to the road ahead and the horses leading the cart, every now and then spurring them to make a turn.

Reality had hit Mikasa like a brick only a few minutes ago and she couldn't bring herself to stop crying, she was beginning to realise that she would never see her mother or father again.

It hurt.

She could feel the warmth of the rug placed over herself and Eren seated next to her and had clung to him from as soon as the cart had started moving. Eren held her head to the gap in-between his shoulder and his chest while she cried. He felt so sorry for her. He couldn't imagine how he would feel if his parents were killed like hers, he would probably stop at nothing to get revenge on the culprits. He then realised that he had already gotten revenge for her, or at least most of it. Then he wondered if she would have liked to get the revenge for herself, but quickly shook that thought out of his head.

"Th-Thank you" her tiny voice broke out between the whimpers and cries.

"Don't thank me; you saved me too remember? We're even."

She started crying harder, and Eren held her closer.

By the time they had arrived in Shiganshina, the streets were empty, save for the guards at the gate and a few stray animals and mice.

Mikasa was so tired, yet she doubted she would could sleep for a while. Her crying had slowed down, but only because she had run out of tears.

It still hurt.

"Alright," Dr. Jeager spoke up from the front, startling Mikasa as the cart came to a stop "Time to go home."

Eren started to shift from underneath her and Mikasa clung on tighter, not wanting to let go of the warmth that was disguising the cold and bitterness that is the world.

"Come on, Mikasa," she looked up at her name being spoken by Eren "We need to get out of the cart," and he started shifting again "unless you'd rather stay in the stables." he added jokingly, a poor attempt to lighten the mood.

The stables boy had taken the hoses off the front of the cart and Dr. Jeager pulled out a bag of coins to pay with. Mikasa still held tightly onto Eren's arm. Suddenly, Eren spoke up excitedly "We'll be home soon, it's real warm there, just you wait. We have a fireplace that you can also cook at! And an extra bed and mom has some old girl clothes," he then leaned in closer to speak quietly "And don't tell Dad but I have some coins I stole off Hannes' friends while they were drunk!"

Mikasa didn't know how to respond to that, he was being so friendly and excitable, plus she didn't think she would be able to talk if she wanted to. So she stayed silent and stared at the ground, finally loosening her hold on Eren's arm.

"Let's go you two." Dr. Jeager walked up to the two of them and held on to Eren's free hand and they started walking down the dark streets of the very late hours of the night.

A small while later, Mikasa sat on a pile of rugs and pillows on a mattress next to Eren staring blankly into the Jeager residence's fireplace, the soft yellow glow spreading across the room and making large, flickering shadows on the wall behind them.

Dr. Jeager had gone upstairs to talk with Carla, and Eren and Mikasa were left staring at the fireplace with Eren talking to her about anything that came to mind.

"You'll like my mom; she's really nice. You'll get along great... You'll like Armin too, he's my friend. His grandpa has lots of books..." Eren spoke to her as she looked at the end of her new scarf "Can you read? I can't very well, but Armin can, he reads to me... he can read to you too if you like."

"Okay"

Absent-mindedly looking at the scarf he gave her she thought back to hours before, when her parents were killed.

The world is cruel like that.

"You can keep it if you want."

"...Ok"

It still hurt.

Mikasa was shaking now. It was so cold there in her small bed they gave to the trainees, her breathing hitched as she tried to hold back tears. She couldn't lose more family, not like that.

She quickly sat up and listened, it was too dark to see, and besides her own sniffling there was even breathing coming from the other beds in the room. She pushed her legs off the side of the bed and walking silently to the door.

She made her way down the hall where she knew Eren's dorm room was.

Once she made it there she took a second to wipe the tears from her eyes and slowly opened the door to see pitch black again. She quietly shut the door behind her.

"Hi, Mikasa." Eren's whispered voice came from across the room, letting her know he was awake and she swiftly strode across the room to his bed where she heard him shuffling over to give her room. Shamefully, she crawled under the covers next to him, and he immediately wrapped his arms around her.

Mikasa looked around the room, though she knew she couldn't see, trying to spot others in the room, Connie was snoring in one corner. Marco seemed to be sleeping, though he knew Mikasa came here often anyway, and no sound came from Franz's bed, indicating he was probably with Hannah somewhere.

Mikasa placed her head down next to his as he quietly started talking to her. "I had a feeling you'd come tonight. You always come when there's no moon."

"I'm sorry that I do this. I don't want to keep you awake."she whispered back.

"Don't be sorry, you can't help it."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me either." he retorted in a slightly angry whisper.

Mikasa sighed and pulled her head down so her mouth was covered by her scarf.

"I'm the one who's sorry." His words made her look up again and he continued "I'm sorry about everything that's happened to you, I'm sorry that I'm so shitty to you, and I'm sorry I don't tell you that enough."

Mikasa was lost for words; Eren wasn't one to apologise often. She felt... grateful. Grateful that the old Eren from back in those days was still there, the same Eren that saved her back then.

"Thank you, Eren" Mikasa said and leaned forward to hug him "and there's no need to apologise to me."

"I didn't want you to follow me into the cadets." he said with obvious distaste in his voice.

"Eren-"

"But I'm glad you did."

And at that, Mikasa really did feel better.

It still hurt.

But it hurt a bit less.

A/N: Thank you for reading, and please don't forget to drop a review. Let me know what you think, if you spotted any mistakes, or you have any ideas to make the plot flow better or anything of the like. Also let me know if you'd rather me just release chapters as I make them (WARNING: very inconsistent) or if you would rather me release chapters in bundles in a few weeks. (or however long it takes me.)

Anyway, Thank you again, and goodbye!