Jeankasa Week Day One: Road Trip

Summary: Mikasa and Jean are driving to their new home after just getting married, but they get lost along the way.

Rating: T

Word Count: 1,910

The sky was an exceptionally pure shade of blue, like a dome of sapphires encompassed the earth above us. The hills, which had steadily begun to increase in altitude, were carpeted in emerald grass, trees of varying sizes and canopies sprouting from the slopes. The worn road wound through the landscape. The two newlyweds traveled this concrete river, the windows of an old convertible rolled down. The wind whipped their ebony and tawny locks into tangled mops that would be a pain to comb out later.

Jean's left hand gripped the wheel and steered the car, while the other rested on the gearshift, Mikasa's hand gently resting on it. "Mikasa," Jean began, "where's the next turn?"

Mikasa looked at the sheet of paper they had printed out with the directions to their new home. "It says we're supposed to turn on Exit 57."

"Thanks, Mikasa." He proceeded to turn around at the next opportunity, and they were soon headed in the right direction. Everything went smoothly for half an hour. They followed the directions correctly, and Mikasa predicted that they would arrive sooner than they had previously hoped. The scenery was becoming increasingly beautiful, as their new home was in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains.

After this half hour of peace, however, Jean groaned and slowed the car to a stop. In front of them lay an endless sea of honking vehicles, all at a complete standstill. "Are you serious?"

Mikasa sighed. "We'll have to wait it out, Jean."

Jean frowned and tuned the radio to a channel with local traffic reports. "On Exit 43, traffic is at a standstill for fifty miles because of a tragic seven-vehicle accident, including an eighteen-wheeler which jackknifed, causing the incident. The estimated wait time from the back of the jam to the front is six hours. If you're in this jam, I strongly advise you to take an alternate route as soon as possible. It's not getting better any time soon." Jean looked at Mikasa. "I'm not waiting for six hours just to get out of this traffic," he stated bluntly.

Mikasa shook her head. "I'm not happy about it either, but we've been through this area how many times? Twice, once for your job interview, and the other to look at houses. We didn't even stop for gas anywhere close to this area. We don't know any other way, Jean."

Jean raised an eyebrow. "This is 2014, Mikasa. Look another way up on my phone."

Mikasa rolled her eyes. "Right." After a minute or two of searching, Mikasa chose a route that fit their situation best. "Our next turn is in two miles. Get into the right lane, and take the first exit."

Jean nodded. "We'll just wait for the next, what, twenty minutes? It's better than six hours, right?"

Mikasa nodded. "It is. But I don't want to get lost, and this route will add an hour to our drive. I don't want to get lost, especially in the dark," she remarked, voicing her concern.

Jean grinned at her, trying to put her at ease. "Relax, it'll be fine. I can get us there, no problem," he said confidently.

"Right. And missing the exit and not noticing it until I pointed it out, thirteen exits later, doesn't mean anything," she deadpanned, referring to a fluke earlier which they noticed half an hour later. She honestly wasn't confident in Jean's navigating skills.

Jean swallowed. "W-well, in my defense–"

"It's okay, Jean. Don't worry about it," Mikasa interrupted. "We'll be fine." She smiled slightly, a rare subtle curvature affecting the soft pink lips that Jean loved so much.

Jean laughed awkwardly. "Right. Fine. I guess my internal compass isn't the best, but I can get us there with your help," he admitted. Mikasa continued to smile at her new dork of a husband, and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. Jean blushed and returned the affection. "I need to keep my attention on the road, you know."

"I know, but we're not moving. I'm not going further than that right now," she said, letting him choose which way to interpret the statement.

Jean, however, certainly noticed the 'right now.' "Good." After about ten minutes, he was able to merge into the right lane, and then find the exit, onto which he turned. It was a confusing route, to say the least. There were many twisting country roads, and they had to swerve more than once to avoid flattening a poor woodland animal. Dusk had passed, and the dark was upon them. In the dim illumination of the car's headlights, they made turn after turn, eventually completely unsure where they were. Jean stopped for a moment on the side of the road.

"Jean, we're lost," Mikasa stated in a tone of voice that was mostly stable at first glance, but with a hint of fear lingering just beneath the surface. After all, it was black as pitch outside, and they were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by woods that seemed straight out of a horror movie.

Jean glanced over at her, slightly concerned. Although he wasn't the most perceptive man in the world, he had learned to read Mikasa after years of friendship, seven months of dating, and six months of engagement. Now, he could easily tell that she wasn't at ease in the situation. Her muscles were slightly tensed, her eyes were slightly wider than they were normally, and her knuckles were white gripping the book in her lap. He bit his lip, she had a point, but he didn't want her to worry. "We're not lost. We passed a town a few minutes ago, we can go ask for directions there."

Mikasa nodded her head, still looking uneasy, and Jean noticed that he had not placated her anxiety. He leaned over and pressed his lips to her forehead in a comforting, lingering kiss, his hand cupping her cheek. He pulled back and leaned their foreheads together, far enough apart that they were looking each other in the eyes, pewter meeting caramel. "It's going to be okay, Mikasa. We'll get there, and I'll get us somewhere safe tonight. We can stay the night in a hotel, if you want. Okay?"

Mikasa attempted to smile and nodded slightly. "Good," Jean said. "It'll be okay." He pulled the car back onto the road, heading back in the direction of the town he had previously mentioned. They drove in silence, Jean frequently giving her comforting gazes and kind smiles, if only to let her know that he cared.

Soon they arrived at the aforementioned town, and Mikasa visibly relaxed. At this point, it was about eleven at night, and everything was closed aside from a twenty-four-hour diner and a hotel. The traffic lights cast an eerie light on the places not illuminated by the streetlights, which were few and far in between. Jean pulled into the parking lot of the hotel, which was mostly full. "See, I told you I could get us here safely," Jean said, in a strange mix of his cocky self and his concerned one, trying to be comforting and sensitive, but also lighten the mood a bit.

Mikasa nodded and tried to smile. "Thank you. But…I think that's enough for today. It's late." Honestly, she just wanted to get to sleep and start again tomorrow, her nerves were frazzled. She was normally a level-headed person, but not knowing where she was made her nervous, and it was much worse when she could barely see where they were going.

Jean nodded understandingly. "Of course, Mikasa. I'm tired of driving, anyway." He pecked her cheek softly. "I'll get us a room, wait here, okay?" Mikasa nodded nervously. Alone. In the dark. Great.

After a few minutes, the worried thoughts began to take control of her brain. What is someone found her alone in the car? Sure, she was strong, more than capable of taking care of herself, but what if they had a weapon? And worse, what if something happened to Jean? He was walking by himself. Worst-case scenarios raced through her mind, each one more horrifying than the last. /No,/she told herself. /You aren't doing anything useful by worrying. Nothing's going to happen./ This stopped her from thinking so many awful things, but she couldn't help but feel worried and on edge.

So lost in her own little world of worry was she, that she didn't see Jean approaching the car. As a result, she was startled out of her trance when the click of the door opening sounded. Jean raised his eyebrows. "Did I scare you?"

Mikasa shook her head. "I just wasn't paying attention, sorry. Do we have a room?"

Jean nodded. "Yeah. I can get our suitcase, but could you get the overnight bag?"

Mikasa nodded, and they headed up to finally rest after a long, stressful day.

The two lay in bed in pajamas, Mikasa reading a novel, Jean scrolling through his phone. Eventually, however, Jean noticed that Mikasa was still silent in an unusual way, one that worried him. Although Mikasa was normally somewhat stoic, tonight she was quiet in a more worried way. Jean looked at Mikasa concernedly. "You're still not okay. What's bothering you?"

Mikasa shook her head in an embarrassed way, closing her book. "It's nothing Jean. I'm worrying about nothing."

Jean raised his eyebrows. "Tell me what nothing is," he said, taking one of her hands. "You're not okay."

Mikasa sighed. "Fine. I've just been worried that something might happen to us—especially you. I didn't want you to get hurt. I was afraid that maybe something would happen and I'd be left here without you." After a moment, she added, "I know, it's stupid."

Jean shook his head and leaned closer to her, so that they were only inches apart. "It's not stupid. But I love you. And I," he said, kissing her hand. "Will," he said, accenting the word with a kiss on her forehead. "Never," he continued, adding a lingering kiss to her cheek. "Leave you." With this final statement, he pressed his lips softly to hers. They lingered there for a time that seemed infinite to them. And if it was infinite, it was a beautiful infinity. It was sweet and loving, and filled with soft touches and tender caresses. Their own little infinity was perfect in every way, it was comforting and happy and intimate. It was like every misfortune either of them had ever felt simply melted away, and all the good feelings they had ever felt came back to them, and they felt all of them, all at once. It was /theirs./ No distractions. Nothing to take them away from the moment. It was just them and the love they shared, their lips forming a bridge more solid than any wall of stone.

When they pulled apart, they were both smiling. "I love you," Jean said. "We're safe as long as we're together."

"I know." Mikasa pecked his lips softly. "I love you too."

Not long after, they lay together, drowsily drifting into a deep slumber. Jean held her in a warm embrace, arms like fortresses around her smaller form. She was curled into him, fingers curled against his chest. When he thought she was asleep, Jean kissed the hair on the top of her head. "Good night, Mikasa. I love you." Falling asleep with her never got any less wonderful.

Thanks for reading my first Attack on Titan Fanfiction! I hope you like it! A review, follow, or favorite would be appreciated, and don't be afraid to tell me what you think! Thank you!