Love is not the right word.
Eren keeps telling her that he is not her little brother, nor her child.
But he doesn't need to be either for her to protect him.
He doesn't love her and she doesn't love him.
They need each other much more than that.
~.~.~
He never saw how her perceived strength masked a much greater weakness.
She needs someone to protect, someone to live for.
Without it, all that strength crumbles to nothing.
She wilts without him.
So when people ask if she loves him, she says no.
Their relationship is nothing like that.
~.~.~
He only needs her for now, he tells himself. Any day now, he'll be strong enough to defend himself.
He'll be able to take his vengeance against the Titans for all that they've done.
When he finds himself alone in a wasteland of Titan corpses, he thinks that he is finally strong enough.
He can't convince himself that it matters without her or anyone else standing beside him.
~.~.~
She can think of no better way to die. Saving Eren from a soldier who thought that Eren was more trouble than he was worth.
She doesn't have anything with her to defend herself, so she blocks the incoming sword with her body.
Eren shouts insensible words at her as she falls to the ground. She imagines that they fall somewhere along the lines of why did you do this? I didn't need you to die for me.
But then she sees a tear fall down his cheek as the world goes dark and she smiles. You did care, she says and dies happy.
~.~.~
It's a plain grave for just one of the many soldiers lost.
He sits quietly in front of it because there's nothing to say. I'm sorry I pushed you away when it mattered, I keep watching for you, but you're not there. Mikasa didn't need to hear any of that.
Mikasa's strength had held him up, even though he hadn't known it. But now that he did, he didn't have her to fight beside anymore.
I will have my vengeance and then I'll follow you. Because there's nothing left for me here.
~.~.~
They are each other's shadows and light.
Mikasa follows Eren into the deepest pits of hell, so that she can shield him when the time comes.
Eren follows Mikasa as the perfect soldier, as a Titan killing machine.
They hold each other up and break each down to the smallest pieces.
But really, they insist, they don't love each other.
A/N: Originally posted on 8/15/2013. Word count sans A/N is 432.
I dunno about this one. The whole point was that they don't love each other but by the end it looks a whole lot like they love each other. Oh well
Some parts might be a bit confusing, so feel free to ask any questions in reviews or PMs.I might chose to change the title of this story later on.
Feedback is always appreciated, and thanks for reading!
-Queen of Narnia49