The night air had stilled and Mikasa could hear the leaves rustle softly under his weight as he took a seat next to her under the tree. There was the occasional 'boom' in the distance as the fireworks were set off. Mikasa could see his face lighten and dim, his turquoise eyes reflecting the vivid flowers that drew up across the deep night sky. A soft sigh escaped her lips.
It was autumn and the place was scattered with leaves glowing shades of persian orange and old gold against the hanging lantern lights. The comrades had finally managed to push the titans out of Wall Rose and reigned victorious after humanity's counterattack. But they were the reluctant heroes, trudging on the deaths of their fellow comrades, sacrifices in the name of freedom.
"Why - why are humans so weak? Is crying and kicking at their feet all we can do? If only I was stronger, then I could have - Armin could have-"
"Eren!" Mikasa pleaded, "there was nothing we could have done."
"... Tch-" he clenched his fists tightly, his figure tensing noticeably. Somewhere ahead Jean picked up a bone near the fire, his movement stiffening as he examined it. The handful of solemn figures around the fire, as well as Mikasa and Eren, were the only ones from the 104th trainee corps left. They were the only survivors.
Mikasa felt her heart sink further just slightly, her face lifting up to stare at the motionless clouds. 'I will protect you Eren, no matter what.'

-
A spark of lightning cut across the heavens.
"T-titans...!"
"You're kidding, hadn't the wall been sealed?!"
They were yelling, scrambling to grab and fasten their blades on their 3DMG. Mikasa quickly stood up, looking at the titans in disbelief. 'How had so many aberrants manage to find their way across the wall?' She felt a pang of regret for leaving her blades at the campsite. One glance to her side and her heart sank - he had left his too. They would risk running into a titan, but now their only chance of escaping was to reclaim their blades from the camp.
"Eren."
"Yeah. Let's go. This time I'll kill them. Every one last of them!" he growled.
"Eren," Mikasa repeated, in a lower voice. 'I will definitely protect you,' she thought as she pulled her scarf closer to her.
Without hesitation he raced for the campsite, filled with rage as always, but this time she saw, maybe, a glint of hope in his eyes. Mikasa followed after him.
Just as they were approaching the campsite, Mikasa caught sight of a 10m-class titan dashing towards them. Mikasa instinctively changed her course, only to find to her horror he had picked up a blade from the ground and was charging towards the titan, yelling.
"Eren!" Mikasa screamed. Her heart was pounding, threatening to blow up the blood into her brains. The orange leaves glowed into bigger, richer shades. She picked up a blade from the ground and willed her legs to move faster, her chest pushing out all the air out of her in a desperate yell. The titan crushed him in its hands, easily bringing him up to its lips. Easily letting him slide down its throat.
Mikasa felt her knees buckle. A deafening silence pressed against her ears. Her mouth was wide open, but no sound came out. Her shaking hand reached out to his ghostly image.
'Eren.'

-
"Mikasa."
Mikasa came to with his shaking her up. 'Eren?' She could hear the sound of grass moving in the wind. The vivid smell of flowers. It was spring.
"Mikasa, what happened to you? How did you fall asleep here?"
'Was it a dream?' Mikasa felt the memories quickly falling from her grasp as she looked up to 10-year-old Eren.
"Eren, I will protect you..." she murmured.
"What are you talking about? What kind of dream did you see?"
They were falling from her grasp.
"... I wonder, but I have a feeling I just had a really long dream."